Up to nine homes could be built on land at a former garden centre at Church Lawton.

Ivan Simpkin has applied for permission in principle for the properties at the site of the former Greenacres Plant Nursery off Liverpool Road West.

The land lies in the green belt but the applicant argues it constitutes grey belt .

A statement submitted with the application says: "The site sits within the context of build form and is previously developed land.

"The erection of up to nine dwellings would not be incongruous in this context."

It says the use of the redundant site for housing would make the best use of an under-utilised area of land, 'and will be entirely consistent with the prevailing character of the area'.

Cheshire East no longer has a five-year housing land supply since the changes to the national planning policy framework introduced by the Labour government last year.

Entrance To Greenacres Site, Church Lawton (Google) Entrance to the former Greenacres Plant Nursery site at Church Lawton (Google)

The applicant's statement says: "The proposal will make a modest contribution to the council's housing shortfall, which carries weight in favour of the development."

It adds: "The proposal represents a sustainable forms of development and meets with all relevant local and national policy requirements."

The application is for permission in principle (PIP) – a two-stage mechanism for obtaining planning approval for housing development.

The first stage, being applied for now, is to establish whether the site is suitable in principle.

If PIP is granted, the site must receive a grant of technical details consent before development can proceed.

The application, number 25/3975/PIP, can be viewed on the planning portal on Cheshire East Council's website.

The last date for submitting comments is November 19.