Plans for 160 new homes and a 70-bed care home in the open countryside at Sandbach have been recommended for approval despite fierce opposition.

The outline application from Wain Estates, which also includes a community building and a new countryside park, is due to be considered next week by Cheshire East's strategic planning board.

Sandbach Town Council, two borough councillors, the CPRE, the Woodland Trust and 136 residents have written to Cheshire East to object to the scheme, which is proposed for a 17-hectare site in the green gap off Crewe Road.

A previous application for up to 200 homes on part of the site was refused by Cheshire East in 2015 – a decision which was upheld by an inspector at appeal.

A report from Cheshire East's planning officer to next week's meeting states: "The proposal would result in the loss of open countryside, but this will be an inevitable consequence given the council's housing land supply position.

Crewe Road, Sandbach (Google) The application site is on the left.

The application site is off Crewe Road, Sandbach (Google)

"The policy in terms of the local green gap is considered to be out of date, but it is still necessary to consider the impact upon the green gap.

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"By shifting development north and positioning the country park to the southern part of the site, the development has addressed the majority of the concerns raised as part of the previous appeal decision in terms of the local green gap."

The site comprises fields bounded by the rear gardens of existing housing along Park Lane to the north, the rear gardens of existing housing along Crewe Road to the east, the Wheelock Rail Trail to the south and agricultural fields and woodland to the west.

Vehicular access would be taken off Crewe Road.

The planning officer says benefits of the scheme include 30 per cent affordable housing as well as economic benefits during construction and when the new homes are occupied.

The proposal also includes a community facility which would accommodate Foden's Band.

Objectors have listed numerous reasons why they feel the scheme should be refused.

These include concerns about lack of infrastructure in the area; the erosion of the green gap between settlements; increased pressure on the ancient woodland from a housing development in such close proximity; highways concerns and flood risk.

Cllr Laura Crane (Sandbach, Lab) raised concerns that the highways assessment could be flawed.

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"The cumulative effect of development on a small town such as Sandbach cannot be ignored

She also said: "The cumulative effect of development on a small town such as Sandbach cannot be ignored.

"Once complete, the developments already approved within Sandbach will have seen the town grow by about 40 per cent in the last 10 years, that cannot be sustainable."

Among local councillor Nicola Cook's (Ind) concerns were loss of agricultural land and the loss of segregation between Sandbach and Wheelock.

The CPRE said the area contains valuable ecological and landscape features, a grade two listed building, a local wildlife site, woodland, fishing lake and habitat for 73 species of bird and a number of different mammals.

It added: "Once the open countryside is built on it will be gone forever."

The strategic planning board meeting takes place at 10.30am at Crewe Municipal Buildings on Wednesday, October 29.

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