Cheshire East has 'reluctantly' approved 103 homes in the open countryside at Chelford despite claims to do so would be 'prioritising housing numbers over sustainability and community wellbeing'.

Barratt and David Wilson Homes want to build the properties, including 30 per cent affordable, together with public open space and a pedestrian link to Dixon Drive, on safeguarded land east of Chelford Station.

Access will be off Knutsford Road.

Parish councillor Clive Howlett told Wednesday's (January 28) meeting of the strategic planning board: "Chelford Parish Council objects to the proposed development.

"It represents premature and unsustainable development and conflicts with adopted planning policy and would result in unacceptable impacts on local infrastructure, highway safety, drainage, biodiversity and the rural character of the parish."

He added: "In the absence of demonstrated local need, adequate infrastructure provision and policy compliance, the parish council strongly objects to the application in that any acceptance prioritises housing numbers in an ad hoc way over sustainability and community wellbeing."

The view down Knutsford Road from the proposed housing site at Chelford (Credit: LDRS)

Ward councillor Anthony Harrison (Con), speaking as a visiting member, said the development should be refused on the grounds of loss of open countryside, loss of grade two agricultural land and on highway safety issues.

Cllr Harrison told the meeting: "Between the period of 2011 and 2024, Chelford village has seen a population increase of more than 36 per cent, vastly higher than the Cheshire East average of 12.9 per cent for the same period, while seeing little investment in local infrastructure to support this increase."

He said this proposal would see a further increase of eight per cent, 'detrimentally increasing the demand on local services already heavily constrained'.

The applicant's agent, Jon Suckley, said because Cheshire East does not have a five-year housing land supply, the presumption in favour of sustainable development is engaged.

He said most of the site had been designated by Cheshire East as safeguarded land that may be required to meet future development needs.

"Due to the council's housing land supply position today, the site is required now to help Cheshire East meet its housing requirements," he said.

The development area (Credit: Google Maps)

Cllr Lesley Smetham (Gawsworth, Con) said the government's changes to the NPPF had thrown Cheshire East into 'disarray' and resulted in going from having a good housing land supply to now not having enough.

Cllr Janet Clowes (Con) said: "The council is between a rock and a hard place."

She said she didn't like the application 'but I can't help thinking that even if we put together something in terms of a refusal, it would be overturned very easily by a planning inspector'.

"I think the only thing that we can legitimately do is try and get the very best deal, if you like, in terms of conditions and amenities for residents of Chelford through our discussion today."

She told the meeting: "Everything that cannot be provided on this site, whether it's biodiversity net gain, whether it's green space amenity, it has got to be provided in Chelford, at the very least."

The Wybunbury councillor then 'reluctantly' moved the application be approved and this was seconded by Cllr Martin Edwards (Crewe, Lab).

Committee chair Brian Puddicombe (Macclesfield, Lab) said he agreed the site was in a sustainable location

But he added: "When we stood where the access was going to be [during the site visit] and looked up Knutsford Road, from a common sense point of view it didn't seem particularly safe to me, but our highways officer has told us that it does meet highway standards, so we do have to take their word for it.

The application was approved, with 10 councillors voting in favour and one against.