Cheshire East has again refused permission for 45 'affordable' homes on greenfield land close to a railway line off Sydney Road in Crewe.

The council's planning officers had recommended the scheme from Anwyl Partnerships be approved, despite the site being in the open countryside where there is a presumption against new residential development.

They said the site is landlocked and no longer forms part of the functional open countryside.

The development off Sydney Road, was for three bungalows, 16 one-bed apartments, 14 two-bed dwellings, and 12 three-bedroom houses (Ryan Parker).

But, following debate at southern planning on Wednesday 30 August during which a proposal for approval was lost, the committee voted to refuse the application.

The application was for three bungalows, 16 one-bed apartments, 14 two-bed dwellings, and 12 three-bedroom houses. Access would be from Sydney Road, between two existing houses.

Ward councillor Hazel Faddes (Labour), speaking as a visiting member, told the committee the Sydney Road corridor had seen a deluge of development.

"This small field is essential for the wellbeing of residents nearby and wildlife on the land. Will we open a precedent to build on open countryside just because it can't be seen by the public?" she said.

She added: "An affordable housing site should not be a development where people feel squashed into as small as possible space. Residents deserve better."

The applicant's agent, Jordan Clark, said the proposal was for high quality homes on land contained by existing housing and the West Coast Main Line and 'as such this small parcel of land is isolated from the surrounding countryside'.

Councillors were unhappy with the 45-home development's cramped form, layout and design (Ryan Parker).

He said previous applications which had been refused hadn't included public space and children's play area, which councillors had asked for this, and this one does.

Committee chair Joy Bratherton (Crewe, Labour), said she was surprised the developer had put the play space next to the one-bed flats.

Cllr Rachel Bailey (Audlem, Conservative), said she was concerned that, if permission was given, it would set a precedent in relation to the open countryside.

But Cllr Andrew Kolker (Dane Valley, Conservative), questioned whether it was open countryside.

"I'm perfectly happy with the layout, I'm happy with the housing mix, I'm happy with the public open space and play area," he said.

"The only question is whether it's an appropriate development in the countryside and I think that really, because of the developments around it, in actual fact, although strictly speaking it's open countryside, the reality is it isn't.

Six councillors voted for refusal and two against, so the scheme was refused on the grounds the harm to the open countryside is not outweighed by the benefits of the development (Ryan Parker).

"It's landlocked, it's a piece of land in the midst of other developments."

He proposed the application be approved and this was seconded by Brereton councillor John Wray (Conservative).

Middlewich councillor John Bird (Independent), said although more affordable housing was needed in Crewe, 'I'm inclined to lean towards what Cllr Bailey's saying, because it's open countryside'.

He continued: "I suspect there might well be opportunities for appeal with other applications should we approve this one and I'm looking at the issue in the round.

"We do have issues in Crewe with housing. Do we use open countryside to satisfy the needs or do we find more appropriate solutions?"

The committee voted on the proposal to approve the scheme and this was defeated with just three members voting in favour, four against and one abstaining.

Most councillors argued the 45-home development is no longer in open countryside (Ryan Parker).

Cllr Bailey then moved it be refused and this was seconded by Cllr Bratherton.

Six councillors voted for refusal and two against, so the scheme was refused on the grounds the harm to the open countryside is not outweighed by the benefits of the development, given its cramped form, layout and design.

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