PLANNING officers at Cheshire East Council have recommended that councillors refuse a proposal to build 190 homes off London Road in Holmes Chapel.

In December, Gladman Developments submitted the plans for the site, which would be located south west of the proposed Sainsbury's superstore.

The planning statement, produced by the Congleton-based company, states: "Outline Planning Permission for up to 190 dwellings (including a minimum of 30 per cent affordable housing), 350sqm B1 employment use, structural planting and landscaping, informal public open space, children’s play area, surface water attenuation, and two vehicular access points from London Road and associated ancillary works."

But ahead of the Strategic Planning Meeting to be held on Wednesday, April 15, officers at Cheshire East Council have recommended the plans be refused.

Officers stated that while the proposal would bring benefits such as affordable housing and a boost to the village's economy, the homes would have a significant negative visual impact on the 'intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside'.

The report adds: "The development would provide significant benefits in terms of affordable housing provision, delivery of housing, public open space provision and significant economic benefits through the provision of employment during the construction phase, new homes and benefits for local businesses in Holmes Chapel.

"The adverse impacts of the development would be the loss of open countryside and the resultant significant adverse visual impact of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, including on the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside, the adverse impact on users of the existing public footpaths on and adjacent to the site, the potential adverse impact of the proposal on the surrounding highway network and the adverse impact of future occupiers of the site being largely car dependent."

However, just one week after governors at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive called on Cheshire East Council to block any more plans for homes in the village as it was concerned about whether it could admit any more extra pupils moving to the area as it was oversubscribed, officer said the plans would have no effect on education provision.

"The development would have a neutral impact on education, trees and hedgerows, protected species/ecology, residential amenity, noise, air quality and contaminated land," it adds.

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