A reserved matters application for 16 houses to be built in Alsager has been approved despite local opposition.

Lee Dawkin, of Renew Land Developments Limited, submitted a reserved matters application relating to the outline residential development for 16 dwellings at land adjacent to 68, Close Lane, Alsager.

Mr Dawkin was seeking approval from Cheshire East Council for appearance, landscape and scale as well as the discharge of associated planning and section 106 contributions relating to the outline planning approval on the site at 68 Close Lane.

The application site comprises part of the garden area serving 68, Close Lane, and the open field to the rear.

Cheshire East received 21 letters of objection in response to the application, which cited concerns including highways safety from increased traffic, Alsager has had its housing quota, precedent for future housing and lack of infrastructure.

Cheshire East felt the proposed design access via Close Lane was "acceptable" and provided "adequate carriageway width to serve" the 16 dwellings proposed.

The councils flood risk team had no objections in

principle to the proposals, however, prior to approval they "need clarity" on the overall drainage strategy as currently no information has been submitted.

A requirement for five affordable houses was secured under the section 106 agreement at outline stage. The 16 dwelling scheme will consist of five two-bedroom, two three-bedroom and nine four-bedroom properties.

A requirement for contributions towards primary (£32,539) and secondary education (£32,680) were also secured under a section 106 agreement at outline stage.

A Cheshire East planning case officer said in his report: "The principle of development has already been established under outline approval. Therefore, the proposal remains acceptable from a pure land-use perspective."

The plans were approved.

Pembroke Homes and Nicola Jane Beach gained outline permission to build 16 homes on land to the rear of 68, Close Lane, Alsager, in March 2018, when Cheshire East Council did not have a five-year housing land supply.

However, Pembroke Homes and Nicola Jane Beach who attempted to remove a planning condition compelling them to contribute more than £32,000 for primary education decided to withdraw their application in March.

The application site falls within the Haslington ward.

Renew Land Developments in contract with Persimmon Homes had previously submitted two separate planning applications for 750 homes to be built on neighbouring White Moss Quarry, which is owned by Mr D Beecroft.

Outline planning permission for 350 homes on part of the quarry, which is included in Cheshire East's Local Plan was granted in 2015.

But a reserved matters application was refused in July 2018 and a further resubmitted application was "finally disposed of" by Cheshire East in July 2020, due to a "clear lack of any active intention" from Persimmon Homes to "provide any further information or updated plans" in connection with the application.

Previous plans for 400 houses on the other side of the quarry, which does not form part of Cheshire East's Local Plan were thrown out at a planning appeal in August 2017.