A PROPERTY company that has put forward a proposal to create homes and relocate two of the town’s sporting teams at Booths Hall has been blasted by residents living close to the site.

In the Guardian last month, Bruntwood announced a plan that would see 150 homes and investment in Toft Cricket Club’s ground and a new pitch for Knutsford Rugby Club.

The firm has already submitted plans to create more office space and a new car park at the Booths Hall site, with those plans set to be heard by Cheshire East Council next week.

But Guardian readers have said they are surprised at the homes plan after the site was knocked back by the borough authority when it came up with its preferred sites for the town’s Local Plan.

It has in fact been declared as a ‘Non-Preferred’ site by borough planners.

The consultation process of the plan found that residents did not feel the site was appropriate for development, with a site north of Parkgate, land north of Northwich Road and another – to the north east of the town off Manchester Road – chosen for development instead.

In an email to the Guardian, town resident Julian Finch, said: “I have already expressed my point of view on the development as part of the consultation process instigated by Cheshire East Council and all of the responses are available on their website, including a summary of the reasons why this site has already been rejected by the council.

“Bruntwood's promises to invest in Toft Cricket Club and the upgrading of roads would seem to me to be a direct response to the objections raised by the council.

“If Booths Park is indeed one of the 'jewels in Knutsford's crown' it is in no small way due to the valuable farmland and wildlife habitat which would be largely destroyed by a development of this size.”

What do you think about the Bruntwood proposal? Email yourviews@guardiangrp.co.uk.