Cheshire East has approved plans for an additional house on the Dingle Farm site at Sandbach which will secure the restoration of the Grade II listed farmhouse.

The southern planning committee had deferred the application in January because it wanted assurances that Dingle Lane would have public right of way status before making a decision on the application to repair the listed farmhouse, convert the barn to a dwelling and construct a new house on the site.

At Wednesday's meeting (February 9) the committee was unanimous in approving the application, after receiving assurances from the developer's representative, Richard Peel, that a section 25 (public path creation) agreement would be arranged once planning permission was granted and the developer owned the site.

Mr Peel told Wednesday's meeting: "Our lawyers have been instructed to deal with the council in relation to that. We will enter into that agreement if planning is granted and that triggers the acquisition of the site."

The site has been the subject of several previous planning applications over the years – for 11, six and then four homes – and all have been refused and dismissed at appeal.

Planning officer Dan Evans told the meeting the historic farmhouse, which was vacated a long time ago, is now suffering from serious structural damage and has been for years.

Sandbach resident Tony Bostock, who spoke at the meeting in favour of the scheme, said: "I confess I cannot wholeheartedly support this new dwelling on the site but, if it's the only way to make sure that the listed building and the historical value of the site are preserved, then I must reluctantly accept this construction may be necessary to fund the renovations."

He said his real concern was that the new build may open the way to further development on the site, but he said he had been assured by the developer there was no intention to submit a planning application for additional properties.

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Sandbach councillor Mike Benson (Con), who moved the application be approved, told the committee: "As ward councillor my concern over the last 10 years has been to protect and restore the Grade II listed building and, just as important, the setting factor.

"I feel that this application, if approved will, with the appropriate conditions, represent the most acceptable so far received for this site, and there have been a number of applications.

"I feel this is the best way forward for this site and I feel the one house situated where it is, and not made any bigger in size or height, would not impede on the setting of this lovely area of the town."

The committee was unanimous in approving the application.