THREE new bungalows have been given planning permission in Scholar Green this morning (February 3).

Cheshire East Council's southern planning committee voted unanimously to approve the bungalows, which will be on Little Moss Lane, next to the canal.

However, some councillors raised concerns that the scheme will lead to urban sprawl in Scholar Green.

Cllr Suzie Akers Smith said: "If we allow development to go ahead, the previous application which we refused had the same principle of development supported.

"There is a green area which will become land locked [by the bungalows] and built on so it could become a sprawl."

However, despite Cllr Akers Smith's worries, the site falls inside the settlement boundary of Scholar Green — in effect permitting the principle of housing within the boundary.

That left Cllr Akers Smith to vote for approval 'with a heavy heart', she said.

Other members of the committee, reduced to 10 councillors with absences, recognised that applicant The Powell Family had done their homework on improving the design after a similar scheme was refused in 2011.

Cllr Mike Benson said: "It is good to see that the developer has talked to our officers. It seems to me that this is an application that should proceed as recommended.

"It is always a concern in a small village that the proposals could sprawl a bit."

Approval was passed with 20 conditions attached.