Plans to build four houses on an area of land in Alsager which has been used as an extended rear garden have been approved by Cheshire East.

Full planning permission was sought by applicant Simon Clutton for the erection of four dwellings with associated infrastructure and ancillary facilities.

The site is a 0.94-acre flat area of land which has historically been used as the extended rear garden area to a residential property called Woodheath at 36 Dunnocksfold Road, Alsager.

An outline application for four detached dwellings at the same location was withdrawn in January 2020 due to the landowner being unhappy with the level of information that was provided by the previous applicant within the planning submission.

But revised plans with further information were resubmitted.

However, Alsager Town Council felt the houses which will have a minimum of four-bedrooms and "doubtlessly be expensive" were "not in keeping with the current housing needs of Alsager".

The town council also had road safety concerns on Dunnocksfold Road, which was already a "dangerous" road for cyclists and pedestrians since the new Alsager Sports Hub was opened.

Town councillors felt this development would make the road "even more unsafe" due to increased traffic.

The application would involve both construction works and a new access off Dunnocksfold Road for vehicles from four houses.

The proposed new access road to the proposed properties would be east of 36 Dunnocksfold Road and west of 34 Dunnocksfold Road.

The town council felt this would result in a minimum of eight adult drivers and eight vehicles "heavily increasing" the traffic turning several times daily into Dunnocksfold Road at a time when "we're trying to encourage people to cycle more".

There were also seven objections submitted to Cheshire East from local residents, who expressed the following concerns:

· Highway safety

· Danger to pedestrians and cyclists

· Loss of trees

· Loss of habitat

· Loss of privacy

· Impact on the character of the area

· Inappropriate design

· Backland development· Drainage issues

· Development should be on brownfield sites

· Refuse collection point will cause smells

· Will lead to further pressure for development

· Alsager has already fulfilled its duty and quota for housing

The proposal would create a row of four dwellings with the two central ones being two-storey with a dormer and modern gable feature to the front and the ones at either end of the row having a bungalow type appearance, with rooflights and windows in the gable ends serving the rooms on the upper floors.

Philippa Radia, a Cheshire East Council planning officer, said in her report: "This part of Alsager has a wide variety of house types including modern estates, large properties in large plots and many other designs and it is considered that the design of the proposed dwellings would not detract from the character and appearance of the area."

Despite concerns being expressed about loss of privacy being caused by the access road, Ms Radia felt it was "not considered that this could be sustained as a reason for refusal".

The application was supported by an Arboricultural Report by Murray Tree Consultancy, which considered tree removals were "necessary" to accommodate the development of four dwellings with an associated new access, together with proposals for relocation of the existing access to Woodheath and landscaping, which was subject to a separate application which has also been approved.

The report identified that two trees would be removed due to their condition and that an additional five individual trees, two groups of trees and one hedgerow would need to be removed to accommodate the development and associated new access'.

A revised planting schedule was submitted which upgrades the planting of five Pinus Silvesvestris increasing their age to four years plus. Also increasing the height from 1.5-2m to 3.75-4m with a girth of 20-25cm.

The other relevant application to the scheme also includes plans for additional tree planting around the proposed new site entrance to the four units, to the rear of Dunnocksfold Road.

The introduction of a hedgerow, fence line and shrub planting between the line of the new access road and the rear garden of Woodheath also form part of those plans.

Ms Radia's report concluded: "The proposed development is considered to not adversely impact upon the amenities of neighbours or highway safety.

"The impact on trees and nature conservation is, on balance considered to be acceptable."

The application was approved.