DEVELOPERS have been told more work must be done on plans for a controversial 151-home estate at Sydney before they get the green light.

Proposals by David Wilson Homes and the Duchy of Lancaster to build the housing on a triangle of land off Sydney Road next to the Crewe Green roundabout sparked protest from hundreds of residents in Crewe and Haslington.

They cited an increase in traffic problems on the busy arterial road roundabout, a loss of green space and wildlife habitat in the area, while raising concerns over safe access to a children's play area.

Several addressed yesterday's strategic planning board where Cheshire East councillors voted to defer giving approval to the scheme until the issues were resolved.

Victoria Webb-Johnson, who lives at the adjacent Fields Farm, told the board that if it approved the scheme it would be "approving an accident waiting to happen".

"The play area should not be located at the entrance of the site and have access onto Sydney road and the middle of my drive which is an operating site for tippers and HGVs - it is not safe for children to use it," she said.

A statement was read out from Geraldina Lee-Treweek, of the Green Spaces 4 Crewe Green action group, which has raised a petition against the housing plans.

She said: "Despite some modifications to the plans little has been done to protect the environment and habitats. I would ask that more green areas and more trees are planted on the edge of the site to improve amenity and noise."

Objectors believe future residents of the estate will be dismayed by the noise of late-night traffic pounding the roundabout into and out of Crewe.

Crewe East ward councillor Hazel Faddes told the board: "We have 151 houses sandwiched inbetween two major highways. The noise and extra traffic will make their lives very unbearable."

The 4.52 hectare site has been allocated for housing in the Cheshire East Local Plan.

The estate will be made up of two, three and four-bedroom houses as well as apartments, and 45 will be "affordable" dwellings.

Andrew Taylor, of David Wilson Homes, described the scheme as "excellent" and said it had been improved "significantly" on its original proposals and pointed out the developers were funnelling money into local schools and health care.

Cheshire East planning officials had recommended the plans were approved with conditions.

But councillors voted unanimously to defer the application and called on the developers to address the concerns with a message that "more work could be done".