A planning inspector has upheld Cheshire East's decision to refuse plans for seven homes in Crewe, saying the proposal would harm the living conditions of future occupiers as well nearby residents.

J Orton wanted permission to build the homes on a brownfield site at 332 West Street.

Cheshire East refused the application in May 2024 on several grounds, including:

• The design and layout of the scheme would result in significant harm to the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring properties through overlooking and loss of privacy;
• The proposal would not provide a high quality living environment for future occupiers given the substandard garden sizes for some of the plot;
• The scheme does not provide any off-street parking provision which would force more cars to be parked on the street in this busy location

Cheshire East refused the application in May 2024 on several grounds, including the design and layout of the scheme would result in significant harm to the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring properties through overlooking and loss of privacy (Ryan Parker).

This refusal came on top of a previous decision by the council to turn down an application for nine homes on the site.

The applicant appealed against this latest refusal but the planning inspector ruled in favour of the council.

In a decision notice published last week, inspector G Sibley said: "The site is located near to services and facilities that could be accessed via transport modes other than the private car."

The inspector said the council does not have a five-year supply of housing land and this scheme would make a modest contribution towards that.

He also said there would be long-term and short-term economic benefits during construction as well as from the ongoing patronage of services and facilities in the area by the occupiers of the development.

But he ruled the proposal doesn't meet standards for space between buildings and would result in overlooking.

And, with regard to highways concerns and no parking provision, said: "It is not clear that the surrounding roads could accommodate the additional vehicles from the occupiers of this development, as well as those visiting, without causing additional congestion and highway safety issues."

This housing refusal came on top of a previous decision by Cheshire East to turn down an application for nine homes on the site (Ryan Parker).

The inspector concluded: "The benefits of the development would attract moderate weight, even taking into account the shortfall in the council's housing land supply.

"The harm that would arise from the development to the living conditions of the future occupiers of the development and nearby occupants, as well to highway safety and the character and appearance of the area weighs significantly against allowing the appeal."

The appeal was dismissed.

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