Cheshire East planners have rejected an application to allow land in Moston to be used as a caravan site for "seven gypsy families".

The applicant, Billy Hearns, proposed to use land on Thimsworra Farm, Dragons Lane, as a site for the families and 16 caravans.

In their planning statement on behalf of the application, a consultant from Philip Brown Associates, said the land currently has permission for use as a "residential gypsy caravan site" accommodating three pitches, consisting two caravans.

The proposal from the applicant read: "Change of use of land to use as a residential caravan site for 7 gypsy families with a total of 16 caravans, including no more than 7 static caravans/mobile homes, together with laying of hardstanding, erection of communal amenity building, erection of 5 utility buildings and erection of stable building."

The lack of traveller sites within the areas was given as one of the reasons why the proposals should be accepted.

The plans were met with considerable opposition from residents as well as Moston Parish Council.

In their submitted objection, the parish council said: "The PC are of the view that harm to the character and appearance of the open countryside will also occur as a result of the proposed development subject of this application."

They also noted that the site had previously been identified as an "unsustainable site" for travellers in a previous study.

Natural England, a public body which advises on the natural environment, said the proposals could have a "potential significant" on the Sandbach Flashes Site of Special Scientific Importance (SSSI).

The body noted that the plans did not detail its environmental impact and any mitigations to protect local habitats.

Camilla Davidge, of Natural England, wrote: "The birds for which the SSSI is notified may also rely on areas outside of the SSSI boundary. These supporting habitats may be used by SSSI populations or some individuals of the population for some or all of the time.

"These supporting habitats can play an essential role in maintaining SSSI bird populations, and proposals affecting them may therefore have the potential to affect the SSSI."

A neighbouring resident on Dragons Lane objected, writing: "Moston is a rural parish and the ad hoc cumulative development on this particular field is having a detrimental urbanising effect on the character and appearance of the area."

A Plant Lane resident, commented: "The character and appearance of the wider field has been eroded over time by applications for pitches. This current application represents an almost doubling of the amount of pitches on the wider site and a significant amount of built development is also proposed."

Cheshire East Council planners rejected the application on Monday (25 January), citing that the site falls within Open Countryside "where development is restricted".

In another reason for the refusal, planners wrote: "The proposed development would cause less than substantial harm to the setting of two listed buildings by means of the increased urbanisation of the land within the setting of the buildings. The benefits of this development would not outweigh the harm."

Natural England's concerns about a lack of information on the potential impact on the local environment was raised as the third reason for refusal.