Planners are recommending approval for a 325-home scheme in Crewe, but with conditions relating to a proposed neighbouring development.

The principle of residential development on the Basford East site, with access from David Whitby Way, has already been established under a previous outline permission.

Councillors at Wednesday's (March 9) meeting of the strategic planning board will only be considering the reserved matters application submitted by Taylor Wimpey detailing the layout, appearance, scale and landscaping.

The 325 homes will be made up of 227 market houses and 98 affordable and will include a mix of detached, semi-detached, and terraced homes ranging from one to four bedrooms.

In a report due to go before Wednesday's meeting, the planning officer states: "This large scheme comprises three separate phases and will be implemented over several years."

The application site lies within the Basford East strategic site which is allocated in the local plan for employment use together with up to 850 new homes.

The south-eastern part of the site wraps around Crotia Mill Farm on Mill Lane, Weston.

This includes a group of traditional, former farm buildings dating from the late 18th/19th century, as well as a much earlier water mill.

The planning report states: "All are considered to be non-designated heritage assets."

The Crotia Mill site is currently subject to a hybrid planning application, which has not been determined.

This is for the conversion and extension of retained farm buildings for mixed commercial and leisure uses and for the building of a new residential development on the northern and eastern side of the mill yard.

The planning officer states in his report: "Residential development on the eastern and northern side of Mill yards buildings is proposed in outline and adjoins the proposed Taylor Wimpey scheme.

"Access is proposed to the Crotia Mill development via the southern loop road from the Taylor Wimpey scheme.

"The Crotia Mill applicant has lodged objections to the Taylor Wimpey scheme on the basis that both schemes should be considered together."

There is also concern about the impact of the Taylor Wimpey scheme on Great Crested Newts, a species native to Great Britain.

The report states: "The proposed development would result in the loss and disturbance of terrestrial habitat of relatively limited value for this species. This would result in a relatively low adverse impact upon this species.

"The submitted report recommends that the proposed development be entered into Natural England's District Licensing Scheme for the species."

The planning officer has recommended that councillors on Wednesday delegate the application to the head of planning and the chair of the strategic planning board to approve, subject to receipt of evidence that the development is eligible to join Natural England's District Level Licensing Scheme.

The meeting takes place at 10am on Wednesday, March 9 at Crewe Municipal Buildings.