HOLMES Chapel is set to expand after an 80-home proposal registered two years ago was given Cheshire East Council’s stamp of approval last month.

Persimmon Homes North West (Charles Church North West) submitted an application for a new development on land off Middlewich Road to the authority in 2012.

When it was first registered, the application attracted a number of objections, with reasons for objecting including impact on Jodrell Bank and Grade II* listed Cottons Hall, strain on amenities, scale and character.

Traffic and roadside safety was also a common reason for objecting but the developer made attempts to address these issues by including a proposal for a toucan crossing point on Middlewich Road.

Despite being registered with the council on December 19 2012, it was not until December 5 2014 that the application was pushed through and given the go ahead.

Work on ‘The Cottons’ is now expected to start within months.

Adele Snook, planning and strategic land director for Charles Church North West, said: “Our plans for the site include 80 new two, three, four and five-bedroom homes, of which 30 per cent will be affordable.

“The reserved matters planning application has been submitted to Cheshire East Council following the approval of the outline planning application last year. We aim to start building ‘The Cottons’ later this year with the first legal completion by the end of the year.

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

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