Cheshire East has deferred an application for up to 48 homes at Church Lawton for more information about the access point and the impact of the proposed development on the stability of the land.

Council planners had recommended the southern planning committee approve the application from Ocean Group Developments for the dwellings on a 1.65-hectare parcel of agricultural land east of Congleton Road North.

The applicant's agent told councillors today (Wednesday): "This is a well-located grey belt site that can deliver much-needed homes, bungalows, a high level of affordable housing, and meaningful community benefits in a sustainable location."

But councillors were concerned about the planned access to the proposed development because the ground slopes steeply up from the A34 into the site.

Cllr Janet Clowes (Wybunbury, Con) said: "I want to understand, if you're going to tunnel or build in an access into that very high level of land, which was quite significant on the site visit, what is that going to do with the engineering of that access point?

"How is that going to deal with the root splays of the existing trees, which we're supposed to be keeping on that same 17m of access?"

She added: "I think if I had confidence in that, then I think we don't have really much choice about the rest of the site, but I think it's worth asking the developers to go away, do that work, and come back and show us exactly what that access is going to look like."

Committee chair Joy Bratherton (Crewe, Lab) agreed more investigation was needed.

"The size of that initial hill as you enter the site, you start digging into that and you are going to destabilise the trees that are there," she said.

"And also, the fact that there's been historical mining there, how will that affect the stability of the land if it is disturbed?"

Cllr Clowes suggested refusing the application, saying more information was needed.

But planning officer Daniel Evans said: "If members were so concerned about that issue, I'd suggest deferral and allowing the applicant to provide additional information in terms of what's happening at the entrance to the site and the treatment of the access and levels."

Cllr John Wray (Brereton, Con) proposed the application be deferred for the developer 'to come up with all the correct details to convince us that the site is satisfactory or otherwise'.

Sandbach councillor Mike Muldoon (Con) seconded the deferral.

Eight councillors voted in favour and one voted against.

The application was deferred for the developer to provide more information relating to the existing and proposed levels at the access, details of stability of land within the access area, and impacts of the groundworks to construct the access on the root protection areas of the retained trees.