Planners are recommending councillors give the go-ahead for 42 affordable homes on an Alsager site where an application for 55 was previously refused.

In 2022, Cheshire East's southern planning committee went against the council officer's recommendation and turned down an application for 55 dwellings on the land off Close Lane on grounds of insufficient open spaces and garden sizes.

Council planners say this latest proposal from Breck Homes deals with those previous concerns.

A report due to go to next week's meeting of the southern planning committee states: "Since the previous application, which was dismissed at appeal, there has been a reduction of density of the site and the increase in the size of the public open space (POS).

"It is considered that the previous refusal reason relating to lack of garden areas and POS has been overcome."

The application site measures 1.523 hectares and comprises part of the garden area serving 68 Close Lane and the open field to the rear and further land to the south behind 60-68 Close Lane.

The proposal is for a mix of detached, semi-detached and town house properties comprising four one-bedroom homes, 15 two-bed properties, 20 three-bed and three four-bed houses.

Access would be from Close Lane and the scheme also includes a community orchard and a LEAP (Local Equipped Areas for Play).

Alsager Town Council has objected to the proposal for several reasons including the site is not in Cheshire East's local plan, the density of the proposal is unacceptable and because access to the site from Close Lane is on a blind bend

Sixty-eight residents have objected on numerous grounds including the development would result in a loss of green space and open countryside, a loss of wildlife/flora and fauna and on several highways grounds including Close Lane is not suitable and not wide enough.

Cheshire East's planners say the proposal would result in the creation of 42 additional affordable dwellings which would go some way to help the council achieve its five-year housing land supply target and affordable housing need.

The application is due to be determined at next week's meeting of the southern planning committee which takes place at Crewe Municipal Buildings at 10.30am next Wednesday (June 4th).

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