AN Ollerton farmer has submitted plans to build a new driving range on land north of Chelford Road – five years after getting permission to build a course across the road.

Farmer Brian Coutts of Beeches Farm, School Lane wants to create the new driving range on land in the village.

In October 2007 and May 2008, the former Macclesfield Borough Council refused plans for a course to the south of Chelford Road saying it would be contrary to the Local Plan and harmful to the appearance of the countryside.

On the 2007 application, planning bosses also found problems with highway safety and parking and on the back of the 2008 application it went to a public planning inquiry in 2009 after Macclesfield Borough Council refused the application.

A planning inspector approved those plans after the two-day inquiry and those plans have permission until July 2015.

The applicant then applied in autumn 2010 for a similar development across the road from the approved site, to the north of Chelford Road. On that occasion the plans involved a ‘pitch and putt’ academy course on 738 yards of land, a 20-bay driving range and a training area but those plans were withdrawn in January 2011.

But now those plans, north of Chelford Road are back, but amended.

The proposal is to provide a 20 bay, single storey driving range building and associated facilities including a new vehicular access off Chelford Road, the creation of a 40 space car park, a mini pitch and putt and a putting green. The range would be unlit and would not contain netting fencing.

Emery Planning has produced the documents put forward to the planners by Mr Coutts.

In the planning statement it adds: "It is important to recognise that the intention is to only implement one of the schemes, not both.

"If planning permission is granted for the application proposal then no objections would be raised to a legal agreement, which would ensure that only one planning permission for a golf driving range is implemented, not both."

Ollerton with Marthall Parish Council was the only body objecting to the proposal on the grounds that it lacked a current robust business plan; enterprise is not viable; business is not sustainable; it would cause traffic disturbance and that open space would be altered.

Councillors are to decide the application at a meeting of Cheshire East Council's strategic planning board that is being heard on Wednesday, September 17 at 10.30am.