Cheshire East's planning department has been slammed, in a fiery council meeting about a Macclesfield housing application.

Councillors deferred a planning application after the applicant's agent slated the 'unjust, unprofessional and simply unfair' action of Cheshire East's planning department.

Planning officer Paul Wakefield told the northern planning committee on Wednesday it was 'regrettable' an omission in the council report meant the recommendation for a two home scheme in Macclesfield had changed at 4.45pm on Tuesday when the committee was due to decide it at 10am the following day.

He said: "I have no doubt that the applicant will, when they come to speak about the application, suggest deferral."

Planning officers had originally recommended the scheme for two semi-detached homes on John Street car park be approved, but at 4.45pm the day before the committee meeting they contacted the applicant to say the recommendation had been changed to refusal.

The applicant's agent, Matthew Lewis, told Wednesday's meeting: "I'm sure the members and the chair will agree that notifying us of the change at 4.45pm yesterday from a recommended for approval to a recommended for refusal is unjust, unprofessional and simply unfair on ourselves, the agents and our clients."

He added: "Our previous presentation [for the meeting] was prepared in time and professionally became null and void as of 4.45pm last night.

"In fairness to each and every party involved in this application decision, that includes not just ourselves but obviously the local residents, the other members, the conservation office, etc, we appeal to the members to make the correct, fair and right decision that this should be deferred."

The meeting had already heard from three people objecting to the scheme but, before committee members started properly to discuss the application, Cllr Nick Mannion (Macclesfield West and Ivy, Lab) asked the council's solicitor whether it would be safe for the committee to determine the  application in light of Mr Lewis' comments during his presentation.

The advice of the council solicitor was to defer it.

Cllr Patrick Redstone (Odd Rode, Con) then moved the application be deferred saying: "I'm also concerned about the reputational damage to the council that this very short notice will cause us."

The application was deferred to give the applicant time to consider the revised recommendation.

The decision to defer for the proposed Macclesfield homes was unanimous.

It is unlikely a decision will be made until 2022.

You can click here to view application 21/4426M.

See also: Macclesfield: Council advises planning conditions must be met on Chelford Road development site.

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