AN APPLICATION for 190 homes and shops was rejected at the Cheshire East Planning Board meeting with members describing the decision as a ‘straight forward refusal.’


The application, made by developers Gladman, proposed a mixed-use residential and commercial development of 190 dwellings on land off London Road on the boundary between Holmes Chapel and Brereton.


Questions were raised over the quality of the land which was identified to build on with members commenting that it looked too good to be ruined by development and one member, cllr Wray, saying it ‘looked like Wembley Stadium’.


The main reason for refusal was the lack of sustainability with the board saying the proposed area for development was too far away from basic amenities such as shops.


Cllr Walton said: “This is in the middle of nowhere. It’s nowhere near any shops or other houses. I think it’s a straight forward refusal.”


The issue of an over-crowded doctor’s surgery and no suggestion of expansion was also put forward as a reason for refusal and sparked a tangent debate about the village’s fairing with NHS funding.


Cllr Wray added: “In terms of getting funding to expand the health centre, who do we ask about this, because if we ask NHS England they will say ‘where the heck is Holmes Chapel?’” 


The motion to refuse was made by Cllr Wray and seconded by Cllr Walton, with the board voting unanimously in favour of refusal, with just Cllr Edwards abstaining.


Cllr Edwards said: “I just can’t see how we can vote to refuse this when we have approved applications exactly the same as this in the past. I think we’re showing double standards.”