PLANS to build 300 homes on a former gas site to enhance the gateway to Ellesmere Port were unanimously refused by councillors due to concerns over the lack of affordable houses.

Developer Peel hoped to build a giant residential and employment park on the former British Gas and Gulf Oil sites off Poole Hall Road and Rossmore Road East, Ellesmere Port.

But, despite the developers insisting the plans would transform the industrial area, creating a wealth of new jobs and homes, Cheshire West and Chester Council turned down the plans, fearing they would set a precedent after Peel offered no affordable housing on the site.

And councillors were concerned about the inadequate financial contribution offered by Peel toward the health and well-being of residents.

Speaking at the CWaC strategic planning meeting on Thursday, Cllr Justin Madders said there were a couple of ‘very important principles at stake’ for Ellesmere Port and the whole of the borough if Peel was given the go-ahead to create a development with no affordable housing.

“I think it is important this site is developed and there is a lot of merit in these plans, if you see what has been done on the other sites over the road you can’t help but be impressed,” he said.

“But, and there is a big but about this, there is still a need for affordable housing in the area. The primary concern should be to secure affordable housing on this development. Going from eight affordable to zero is not any kind of negotiation.”

And Cllr Angela Claydon raised concerns about the lack of affordable housing.

She said: “If it is that one of the richest landlords in the country can’t afford to build these houses with affordable housing, as everyone else has to do, then surely this land isn’t suitable to have houses?

“If they can’t afford to do it then no-one can afford to do it, and then it should stay as employment land.”

Speaking on behalf of Peel, agent David Thompson said the development would be an ‘important further step forward’ adding to work already done to transform the area, including Peel’s two sites, the Pioneer Business Park and Rossfield Park.

“These plans are a key part of Peel’s wider regeneration aspirations for the town and seek to build on and complement applications already made,” said Mr Thompson, who also described the scheme as sustainable.

The committee unanimously refused the application, saying the significant deficiencies in the development outweighed the benefits.