Cheshire East has allowed a developer to bypass the latest conditions on a Crewe estate where previous blunders led to about 250 homes being occupied without planning permission.

The failings by the council and Countryside Partnerships made national headlines after the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed how Coppenhall Place had its planning permission revoked in 2022 because, at that time, the developer failed to deal with a condition relating to contaminated land.

Cheshire East's strategic planning board eventually granted permission again for the site last year – but councillors, who were furious at the way the situation had been handled – imposed strict conditions including one stipulating the remaining 14 homes which had not been sold could only be occupied when certain conditions were discharged.

But, despite the developer's history with the site, Cheshire East earlier this year agreed three of those properties could be occupied ahead of formal discharge of the conditions.

Ward councillor Roger Morris (Con) is fuming and demanded to know at this month's meeting of full council 'whether residents can have confidence that when this council gives its word, it will stand by it'.

Cllr Morris said: "In May 2023, Penny Mordaunt MP [then leader of the House] stood in the House of Commons and called Coppenhall Place in Crewe a disgraceful situation, and asked a question every resident on that estate still remembers.

"Three years on, after the council said it learned from the Coppenhall place, I am asking her question again: How in God's name has this happened on the same site with the same developer, same planning authority, and many of the same officers?"

He continued: "When the retrospective planning application came before the strategic planning board, members were told that robust safeguards would ensure the remaining remediation works were completed before the final restricted homes could be sold or occupied.

"Those safeguards were fundamental to restoring confidence in this development.

"That promise has been broken.

"Restricted plots have been sold, some are occupied, the planning conditions have not been formally discharged.

"Remediation works are still outstanding, and the head of planning has confirmed that occupation was allowed before the discharge process had been concluded.

"So I have four questions for this council.

"How did the council move from assuring members that these safeguards would protect residents, to now allowing occupation before those safeguards had been fulfilled?

"Under what authority was that decision taken?

"Why are elected members not informed that the safeguards they approved would not operate in the manner presented to them?

"And if the council maintains that everything which has occurred is entirely proper, will it publish the legal basis and decision-making process so that residents, members, and the public can understand how that conclusion has been reached?"

Cllr Morris added: "This is no longer about one estate; it's about whether this council's planning decisions mean what they say, and whether residents can have confidence that when this council gives its word, it will stand by it."

Deputy council leader Michael Gorman said a written response would be provided.

Former estate resident David Simcox has already lodged an official complaint with the council.

He said he has serious 'governance, procedural and enforcement concerns' regarding the council's handling of application.