Cheshire East has given the go-ahead for 20 homes on the former Chelford Market car park with one councillor saying 'it really is a site that almost begs to be filled in with houses'.

Jones Homes wants to build the properties on the land off Knutsford Road.

Chelford parish councillor Clive Howlett had asked for the application to be refused, telling today's (Wednesday) meeting of the northern planning committee: "The site is designated as safeguarded land…

"Such land is intended to remain as open countryside and not allocated for development until a future local plan review identifies a clearly evidenced need."

He said: "The proposal is premature, unjustified, and contrary to both local and national planning policy."

The parish council's views were at odds with those of ward councillor Anthony Harrison (Con) who spoke in favour of the application before leaving the meeting as he had declared an interest saying he was pre-determined and so did not vote.

The application, which has been submitted in full, is for a mix of homes ranging from one-bedroom apartments to five-bed houses.

It includes seven affordable homes.

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Knutsford councillor Tony Dean (Con) said: "There's been a lot of building in Chelford, an awful lot of building.

"But having been to see this site on Friday, the overriding impression is that this site was made to be filled in."

Macclesfield councillor Fiona Wilson (Lab) said: "I've long campaigned against building on green belt and open spaces. This site is an already built on site.

"This is developing an area at the back of an existing residential build already."

She also welcomed that the developer was going to upgrade the pedestrian crossing.

Cllr Marilyn Houston (Crewe, Lab) raised the question of whether local people could be prioritised for affordable housing.

This was debated at length, with councillors agreeing that should apply across the borough if it could become part of housing policy.

Planning team leader Paul Wakefield said he would raise the issue with Cheshire Homechoice.

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Cllr Dean moved the application be delegated to planning officers to approve after the discussion had taken place with the relevant people regarding the possibility of priority for affordable housing.

This was seconded by Cllr Sally Holland (Con) and 10 councillors voted in favour.