A DEVELOPER has amended plans to build 151 homes on a site in Crewe after the application was deferred by a council's strategic planning board.

David Wilson Homes and the Duchy of Lancaster are now asking for permission to build 149 homes on the greenfield site off Sydney Road.

The triangular shaped site, between Sydney Road and the A534 near Crewe Green Roundabout, is allocated in the local plan for around 150 homes and the principle of residential development has been established.

But Cheshire East Council's strategic planning board deferred the application at its meeting on June 15 saying the public open space needed to be more central on the site.

The board also raised concerns about the balcony and amenity space of some apartments.

Now planning chiefs are recommending the revised scheme be approved when it is considered by the board at its meeting next Wednesday (August 18) at Sandbach Town Hall.

In a report due to go before that meeting, the council's planning officer states: "In response to the concerns raised by members, the applicant has amended the site layout to enable the play area to be re-located to a more central position within the development.

"The scheme has been reduced to an overall total of 149 units. To achieve this number of dwellings more units are now located alongside the access into the site from Sydney Road.

"These units occupy part of the formerly proposed area of public open space located in the north-western part of the site but are sited to remain outside of the strategic green gap."

The housing mix has also been slightly adjusted and now comprises 10 one-bedroomed, 22 two-bedroomed, 85 three-bedroomed and 32 four-bedroomed homes.

As before, 45 of these properties would be affordable housing.

The planning officer said the applicant had submitted a sectional drawing to demonstrate the separation distances between the proposed balconies and road at Crewe Green Roundabout following concerns raised by councillors.

The officer said: "It is considered the balconies would provide reasonably attractive and usable private amenity space for residents of the apartments, and particularly at evenings and weekends when traffic is lighter."

Altogether about 120 letters of objection have been sent to the council from residents, interested parties and ward councillors.

The objections include arguments the land was not originally a strategic allocation in the Cheshire East Local Plan, but was added after a further consultation period.

Residents argue there are better sites elsewhere, such as more suitable brown field sites more central to Crewe and that the development will result in an erosion of the Green Gap and green space between Haslington and Sydney.

They say the loss of open countryside will be detrimental to the character of the surrounding settlements.

Crewe Town Council and Haslington Parish Council have also objected.

Among their objections are claims the proposals represent over development and that the high density/affordable housing aspect of the proposals are concentrated in one area and should be spread through the development evenly.

Cheshire Police has raised concerns about the potential for antisocial and criminal behaviour saying canopy court entrances act as shelters and there is a lack of surveillance of courtyard parking in the southern part of the development.