Plans have been submitted for 452 homes and a new spine road on land south of Houndings Lane at Sandbach.

The 32-hectare site is currently in agricultural use and is identified by Cheshire East as open countryside and an ecological network.

A planning statement from Asteer Planning, on behalf of applicant Muller Property Group, states: "Due to the site's status as open countryside, the development proposal is contrary to the development plan.

"However, given the council is not able to demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites, and in light of the significant benefits the development will provide, the proposal represents sustainable development in line with the NPPF (national planning policy framework), and under the tilted balance planning permission should clearly be granted."

Muller has submitted a full planning application for the demolition of existing buildings on the site and for highways infrastructure works including the formation of site accesses and an internal spine road.

It has applied for outline permission for the residential development, which includes 30 per cent affordable housing, local centre, sports and leisure facilities, substations, the replacement of a pedestrian footbridge and associated infrastructure including landscaping, public open space, access and drainage.

The outline application is for 452 homes which would consist of a mix of one, two, three, four and five-bed properties and include terraced, semi-detached, detached and apartments.

Potential uses for the local centre, according to the planning document, could include convenience store, post office, pharmacy, medical centre in the form of GP or dentist surgery, or a fitness studio.

It states: "The final uses will be confirmed at reserved matters stage once operators have been identified."

Outline permission is also being sought for a clubhouse pavilion, a full-sized grass football pitch and a MUGA pitch.

The applicant says: "The proposed development is in a sustainable location, offering good connectivity and access to local services."

This latest proposal from Muller is the second phase of its 'Sandbach South Masterplan'.

The approved first phase, which is being delivered by Anwyl Homes, is for 204 dwellings.

At the time of writing, there have been four objections to this latest proposal posted on the planning portal.

One objector wrote: "The question is not whether Cheshire East needs additional housing. It plainly does.

"The question is whether this site, at this scale, and on the terms presently proposed has been demonstrated to be a sustainable and acceptable place for that housing. It has not.

"A housing-land supply deficit is not a planning amnesty.

"It is not a dispensing power permitting every field adjoining Sandbach to be developed. Nor does it extinguish the statutory development plan."

Some residents are calling on the council to extend the consultation period, saying some neighbours have still not had notification about the proposal and others are away as it is the summer holiday season.

The application, number 26/2445/FUL, can be viewed on the planning portal on Cheshire East Council's website.

The last date for submitting comments is 4 September.

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