Councillors have refused a 15-home scheme for Wheelock arguing it isn't acceptable to cut corners and provide properties below minimum space standards just because they're affordable.

Cheshire East's planning officers had recommended approval for the application from Jigsaw Homes North for land off Meadowbank Avenue, but most southern planning committee members argued it was a cramped, over-developed scheme which had highways issues and was unacceptable.

Ward councillor Laura Crane (Lab), speaking as a visiting member, said: "It appears that corners have been cut to cram houses into the available space with no nice green spaces left for residents…

"Three of the flats proposed are below national space standards and, some may say it's only 1.4sqm, but these are social housing properties – people don't dare turn down those properties for fear of being rejected for properties that may come forward in the future."

Cllr Laura Crane (Photo: Cheshire East Council)

Cllr Crane said the fire service said their appliances should not have to reverse more than 20m to turn – and on this site they would have to. And she said part of the road would remain unadopted.

"In my opinion, by approving this design we, as a council, show that we don't care about the safety of those who live or visit the majority of homes within this plan," she said.

Meadowbank Avenue resident David Chapman listed numerous reasons why the development should be refused.

He told the committee: "Many residents would welcome housing on this site. All we're asking for is developments in accordance with the local plan and design guide, building regulations and fire safety standards. This development falls significantly short on all counts and represents a fire safety risk for future residents."

Brereton councillor John Wray (Con) proposed the scheme be approved.

Cllr Andrew Kolker (Dane Valley, Con) seconded the approval, saying: "So long as we have the reassurance by our highways officer that emergency vehicles and refuse vehicles can access all areas then we're happy to go along with that."

The vote was lost.

Cllr Anthony Critchley (Crewe, Lab) said: "This isn't good enough. It doesn't meet the national space standards and just because it's affordable housing isn't a reason for us to say 'actually, yeah it's alright because we need some'."

Cllr Anthony Critchley (Photo: Cheshire East Council)

He added: "It's unacceptable as far as I'm concerned. We should be getting things right and doing things properly."

Cllr Janet Clowes (Wybunbury, Con) agreed with Cllr Critchley.

"We've got roads that don't meet standards but 'yeah we can get round it, we can ignore it'. We've got space standards that are below requirement in three houses. We can't offer open space for family houses… and then you've this whole adopted/not adopted road issue. It seems to me that we are building decay into a development before it's even been built out," she said.

She added that, while the site needed to be developed, if the numbers were reduced slightly 'you would have had a much better quality result that did not cut corners pretty much on every area of planning policy that we've got'.

Although councillors spoke against the scheme, none had proposed refusal.

Then, bizarrely, Cllr Kolker – who had earlier seconded the [lost] vote to approve, moved it be refused 'because we have to make a decision'. Even more bizarrely, he then abstained from the vote.

The application was refused on the grounds the proposal represents a cramped, over-development of the site and does not provide an acceptable design solution or standard of amenity/space standards.

Five councillors voted for refusal, one voted against and two abstained.

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