CHELFORD parish councillor Chris Wilson has cut the first sod to launch work on a major new estate in the village.

Construction work has started on Galloway Grange, a development of 89 houses on Station Road, being built by David Wilson Homes North West.

The development is being created on the site of a former cattle market, and underpins 178 local jobs and will bring significant investment to the area.

Contributions totalling £601,000 will be made towards healthcare, education and public open space, as well as a new play area and contributions to indoor and outdoor recreational grounds as part of the planning agreement for Galloway Grange.

Lynton Dudgeon, sales director at David Wilson Homes North West said: “We are very excited to be starting work on Galloway Grange, which will offer a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom homes.

“The development will begin to take shape in the following months. Alongside building new homes we will also be investing in the local area so the residents of Chelford feel the benefits.”

The first residents are expected to move onto the development next spring.

Cllr Wilson said: “Chelford Parish Council welcomes this housing development and looks forward to new residents joining our community.”

The development was approved by Cheshire East Council’s Northern Planning Committee in April.

At the meeting committee chairman Cllr George Walton slammed the ‘outrageous’ Government policy which forced his board to approve an 89-home development with just five affordable units.

Cllr Walton, Conservative Cheshire East Council member for Chelford, criticised the vacant building credit before voting to approve the scheme.

The credit, which was announced by the Department for Communities and Local Government in 2014, allows fewer affordable homes to be built while incentivising the redevelopment of brownfield sites.

David Wilson Homes will contribute £267,000 for residential open space, £10,000 to improve the car park at Chelford Surgery, £84,000 for residents’ outdoor recreation and £13,000 for sports equipment at Chelford Village Hall.

A £173,000 contribution to Chelford Primary School and £45,000 for special educational needs provision will also be paid by the developer.