PLANS to increase the number of homes on The Crown Estate’s Northwich Road development from 175 to 260 sparked strong opposition by town councillors.

The planning committee voted unanimously – barring one abstention – to oppose the recently-submitted plans.

The council’s response to the outline planning application will be added to the dozens already recorded by members of the public on the Cheshire East Council planning portal, ahead of a provisional committee date of September 27.

At the planning committee meeting on Monday night, members of the public and councillors aired concerns about exceeding the 950 homes allocated to the town in the recently-adopted local plan, with Crown Estate representatives also present.

CEC ward member Cllr Tony Dean said: “You say that the 175 homes allocated is a minimum and I’m sure that for a landowner that is correct, but for the people who live here we see 950 as a maximum – we have kind of been promised that.

“We started off with 450 homes, then 600, then 950, and we have had to accept that. There is absolutely no way that I am prepared to stand by and see one of the first sites coming through upping the number of residences.”

Fellow ward member, Cllr Stewart Gardiner, said: “I am very concerned by the uplift in numbers. If I was a landowner of another site and this application was approved, I would be asking for my 49 per cent uplift as well.

“We need to put a line in the sand and say we will not accept this level of bullying by developers – the people of Knutsford have been very reasonable. They have accepted that they will have to take their fair share from the green belt – this is a kick in the teeth.  “I don’t expect someone acting on behalf of the crown to employ these underhand tactics.”

With concerns also raised about a lack of primary school places and convenience retail alongside the development, planning committee chairman Cllr Jonathan Farber called the proposed increase ‘greedy’.

Pascal French, strategic land manager at The Crown Estate, said: “We’ve worked hard with CEC on the proposals and by providing up to 260 new homes, we are making the most efficient use of the allocated site while helping to meet the housing need in the local area.

“Our plans will provide open green spaces, with 30 per cent on-site affordable housing.

“Infrastructure improvements will ensure local highways are capable of supporting the new development and financial contributions will be made towards the provision of local services.

"Our proposals will create a high quality development that is in keeping with the character of Knutsford.”