HOLMES Chapel residents are being urged to have their say on plans to build 80 houses in the village.

Persimmon Homes’ blueprints will be on display in the school room of the Victoria Club in Victoria Avenue between 2pm and 7pm on Friday.

Developers will also be on hand to talk to residents about the proposed site on the north side of Middlewich Road, between the Ravenscroft estate and Cotton Hall.

The scheme has yet to be formally submitted to Cheshire East Council.

Neil Follows, managing director of Persimmon Homes North West, said: “We genuinely want to gauge public opinion to ensure any application proposed by Persimmon Homes has been thoroughly considered by the community it will serve, as well as introducing them to our ideas for the site in terms of highways, ecology and landscaping.

“Our plans for the site include 80 new family homes, of which 30 per cent would be affordable.

“There would be public open space and a new children’s play area within the site and Persimmon Homes would be making contributions towards education provision, open space and sports facilities locally.”

But Stuart Gammon, chairman of Holmes Chapel Partnership, told the Guardian that the community’s initial reaction to the plans has been negative.

He said: “The general feeling is: ‘Why do we need more houses?’ “There are already more than 200 houses set to be built between the former Sanofi Aventis and Fine Decor brownfield sites which have both been given the go ahead.

“People have said we’ve got enough traffic on Middlewich Road without putting another source of traffic there.

“We could have between 80 and 150 extra cars on the road.”

Persimmon estimates that the development would generate more than £115,000 in council tax every year and almost £700,000 from the Government’s New Homes Bonus – to be spent on infrastructure.

Mr Follows said: “We see investment of this type in the north west as vital for economic recovery, creating new jobs both directly at the site and indirectly through the supply chain and within the community.”

Stuart added: “It’s important that people attend the public meeting, see what’s on offer and express their opinion.”

Those unable to attend can email feedback to: consultation.event@persimmonhomes.com