Plans for homes at former kennels in Hough set to be approved

Plans for eight homes on the site of a former kennels at Hough near Shavington have been recommended for approval, writes Belinda Ryan.

Cheshire East planners are recommending the southern planning committee approves the development for land at Birchwood House on Birch Lane, despite it being in open countryside.

The application was due to be heard by the committee in June but was withdrawn while council officers waited for advice about a gas pipeline close to the site.

The officer’s report to the July 29th meeting states: “This has now been provided, and National Gas have confirmed the results show very limited risk and as such remove their objection.”

Planning officers say the proposal is considered to be sustainably located, but despite this it conflicts with the development plan as a whole.

But they point out Cheshire East does not have a five-year housing land supply and the development would contribute towards meeting this need and provide a contribution towards affordable housing.

That would be in the form of a financial contribution of £303,743 towards the provision of three off-site affordable homes.

The application site comprises a small parcel of land which relates to a wider site which was a former boarding kennels.

It previously housed the existing dwelling and its garage and outbuildings.

Three houses have already been built and are occupied on the parcel of land to the south-west.

The parcel of the land to south-east has also secured planning approval and five dwellings have now been constructed on this site.

The current application site is the remaining area of land that was associated with the former boarding kennels.

Hough Parish Council has objected citing several reasons including claims the existing property has an agricultural tie and the proposal replaces a single dwelling and far exceeds the footprint of this existing property.

Five residents have objected.

Their reasons include claims the application site was supposed to be retained as an ecological area as part of the approved developments to south and east and it is overdevelopment of the site and out of character with the area.

The southern planning committee meeting takes place on Wednesday, July 29, at 10am at Delamere House in Crewe.