PLANNING officers are recommending councillors refuse an application for a retirement village including a 60-bed care home and 82 assisted living apartments in Chelford.

David Hughes wants to build the new complex, which would also include tennis court, fishing/boating lake, Japanese Water Garden, sensory garden, new allotments, greenspace and woodland walks at Holly Tree House on Pepper Street.

It would also feature a village centre hub building with communal facilities as well as an integrated GP clinic.

The council states of the 176 households and groups who responded to the consultation, 133 objected and 42 supported the scheme. Ollerton and Marthall Parish Council objected.

A design and access statement submitted with the application, states the development will ‘create a high quality, attractive, new care village, sensitive to adjacent uses and complementary to the existing residential neighbourhood, offering a mix of care housing types and a host of care related and leisure/recreational services and facilities’.

But Cheshire East planners are recommending councillors turn down the application next week for a number of reasons, including the harm to the Green Belt.

In a report due to go before Wednesday’s (October 13) meeting of the strategic planning board, the council’s planning officer states: “The proposals would make a significant contribution towards specialist older persons housing provision in the area.

“However, the weight afforded to the need is tempered by the fact that the need for the care home element of the development proposals, is not considered ‘proven’ based on consultation responses and evidence provided by the council’s adult social care team and the NHS CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group).

He added: “Significant weight is given to the social benefits derived from the care village model.

“Having the various stages of care being provided at one site which includes a variety of services and amenities, potentially allowing couples to live together on site who need differing levels of care, represents a notable health and well-being benefit.”

But he also stated: “It is deemed that the development would result in a substantial harmful impact upon the openness of the Green Belt.”

Other considerations included the economic benefits with regard to job creation and localised spends in the area.

The officer stated: “This is afforded moderate weight given that a number of services and amenities would be provided on site and, as such, there would be less need for residents, staff and visitors to visit the local services and amenities nearby.”

He concluded: “Overall, it is considered that the harm caused to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, and the other harm identified, would not clearly be outweighed by the other considerations.

“ As such, the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development do not exist.”

He recommended the strategic planning board refuses the application when it meets on Wednesday, October 13..

The meeting takes place at Crewe Municipal Buildings at 10am.