Villagers celebrate as High Court throws out Willaston plan

Villagers fighting plans for 146 homes in Willaston are celebrating after a High Court overturned an appeal.

A judge has ruled that proposals by Richborough Estates for the homes off Moorfields should be thrown out.

It comes after a Judicial Review lodged by Cheshire East Council after its initial refusal was overturned by a planning inspector.

The judge delivered his verdict today after a two-day hearing was held in London two weeks ago.

Willaston and Rope Cllr Brian Silvester said: “This has been a very contentious planning application.

“Along with the residents, the Green Gap Action Group and the Parish Council, I have campaigned very hard to stop this unwanted development.

“I went along to the appeal hearing and spoke against it and was cross examined.

“We were all shocked when it was passed on appeal because the inspector had not given much weight at all to the importance of the Green Gap.

“Also his decision went against a decision on appeal, which was taken at roughly the same time, to refuse a housing development in the green gap in Sydney, Crewe.”

Some of Cheshire East Council’s objections were rejected during the High Court hearing.

But Mrs Justice Lang did find the planning inspector had been wrong to regard the Green Gap housing policy as being out of date.

She has ordered the Government to pay Cheshire East’s legal costs.

Other developers have lodged planning applications to build large housing developments in Willaston.

Wainhomes wants to build 120 houses on land off Cheerbrook Road.

Stretton Willaston Ltd has lodged plans to build 175 homes on land between Park Road and the railway line.

Residents can still air their views on these applications online.

“Hopefully now that the Moorfields application has been rejected we will have more chance to stop these new applications,” added Cllr Silvester.