Cheshire East planners are recommending approval for 24 homes on a Crewe site, despite United Utilities requesting the proposed drainage strategy is not approved until all concerns are resolved.

Watkin Jones Group wants to build extra properties on the land to the north of Sydney Road, part of the Alexandra Gardens site.

The company already has permission for 245 homes, including 159 affordable, on its part of the site.

The application has been referred to the southern planning committee by Crewe East councillor, Hazel Faddes (Labour).

The 24 homes application has been referred to the southern planning committee by Crewe East councillor, Hazel Faddes (Labour) (CEC).

In her call-in letter Cllr Faddes said: "Although there are 17 properties already agreed and the 24 properties are planned to replace them, the style and size of housing, as well as the provision of parking and waste facilities for the new properties should be considered."

But most of her concerns centre around about the ability of the existing drainage and sewerage system to accommodate the additional 24 homes.

She questioned why drainage plans proposed to combat water run-off from the higher ground around two cottages on Maw Green Road are not shown.

And she added: "Residents living near to the full site have raised many objections and there have been several breaches on the site, though most have been resolved."

The report from the council planning officer to next week's meeting said four residents had objected, on the grounds of lack of affordable housing and issues with the travel plan.

They had also raised concerns about flooding issues, including the increased flooding of Maw Green Road and questioned the drainage and flood risk assessments.

The report says: "Some comments relate to previous planning consents granted for the development of this site, and concerns about non-compliance with planning conditions, unauthorised raising of land levels, with particular concerns about flooding and overlooking.

"These matters have been addressed in previous application reports and enforcement investigations."

The southern planning meeting takes place at Crewe Municipal Buildings at 10.30am on Wednesday 30 July (Ryan Parker).

The planning officer says the principle of development has already been established on the site and 'given the council's lack of a five-year housing supply there can be no issue with increasing housing numbers on the site'.

With regard to comments from United Utilities, the officer's report states: "UU request that the proposed drainage strategy is not approved until such time as all concerns are resolved.

"UU need to understand if the existing foul pump station can accommodate the additional 24 dwelling flows and if the pump station was designed to accommodate the additional 24 dwellings.

"Should planning permission be granted without resolution of all drainage concerns, UU request a condition is attached to any subsequent decision notice requiring the detailed drainage design to be approved."

The planning officer recommended the application be approved stating: "Whilst UU have asked for further information with regards to the pumping station capacity, the LLFA (lead local flood authority) have raised no issues and UU have stated the matter can be conditioned.

"In all other respects there are no objections from consultees with regards to highway changes, design/layout changes, tree impacts, nature conservation/landscaping and amenity considerations.

"Housing and education raise no objections subject to meeting S106 policy requirements."

The southern planning meeting takes place at Crewe Municipal Buildings at 10.30am on Wednesday 30 July.

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