Supporters and opponents of a 142-homes scheme on playing fields in the Chester flood plain will give evidence before a planning inspector today (Tuesday, September 22).

Bark Street Investments’ development on Clifton Drive sports pitches, off Sealand Road, were narrowly backed by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s strategic planning committee last December against the advice of its own planning experts.

But the matter was referred to the National Planning Casework Unit for a final decision after Sport England objected to the loss of playing fields , currently leased by the University of Chester, but now unused and allowed to become overgrown.

Chris Matheson (Labour PPC), Cllr Carolyn Graham and Andy Scargill (Friends of North Chester Greenbelt) with residents upset at the council's plans to build houses on land at the Sealand Road playing fields off Clifton Drive

And campaigners, residents and councillors took the chance to write to the unit requesting the application be ‘called in’ for a decision by the Secretary of State because of the loss of playing fields and the increased flood risk .

This led to this week’s public inquiry which will be held at Nicholas House, Black Friars, Chester, where an inspector will hear evidence from both sides before making a recommendation to the Secretary of State.

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Should the housing development on Clifton Drive go ahead?

News of the inquiry will be of interest to Bloor Homes and Sealand Commercial Properties Limited who recently submitted plans to build up to 130 homes on the other side of Clifton Drive , also in the flood plain, as well as demolishing four properties in Sealand Road to provide access on to the site. A decision is awaited.

Questions were raised, including by Chester MP Chris Matheson, when the then-Tory-controlled committee approved Bark Street Investments’ housing scheme in a high-risk flood zone while simultaneously backing a multi-million pound flood defence scheme in Northwich.

But strategic planning committee members were convinced by a mitigation package, backed by Chester and District Football League (CDFL), that will make nearby ‘boggy’ council pitches usable and provide limited community access at university facilities.

Cllr Alan McKie, who moved approval, said at the time: “I’m keen to encourage sport, particularly in Blacon and Chester. I would listen to someone like Chester and District Football League. They actually deal with the young people and the people of Chester and Blacon in terms of representing them at football and they seem to be quite clear they have removed their objection to this.”