Council will not defend appeal over homes refusal

A council that refused plans for 160 homes has said it will not defend an appeal against its decision, after legal advice found it did not have sufficient grounds to fight the case.

Cheshire East Council refused plans for 160 homes and a community space for brass band Foden's in October, because of concerns about the loss of agricultural land, the site's entrance being near a school and the impact on ancient woodland.

The authority said it fully recognised "the strength of local feeling" about the scheme.

In a statement, the council said continuing to fight the appeal would "come at a considerable financial cost".

"Recognising the planning grounds in this case - and at a time when the council is facing significant financial pressures and unprecedented demand for services that support and protect our most vulnerable - we must act responsibly and not risk wasting money on an appeal we are very unlikely to win," it said.

At the time of the council's refusal, its head of planning said there was a "real risk" of an appeal and that the reasons for refusal "were not going to hold up in terms of scrutiny".

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