JUBILANT Malpas residents are celebrating after controversial plans for a new housing development were unanimously rejected.
Residents have staunchly campaigned for months against ‘monstrous’ proposals to build 140 homes on greenfield land in the village.
They claimed Gladman’s affordable family homes would ruin the character of the village, straining already overstretched resources.
A petition condemning the proposal collected 1,650 signatures and 600 individual objections.
But their prayers were answered at Cheshire West and Chester’s strategic planning committee meeting last week, when councillors voted unanimously to refuse permission for the development, which would have increased housing in Malpas by 20%.
Despite builders insisting the homes would ‘enhance the character of the village’, councillors agreed services were already stretched and posed 'serious questions' as to whether Bishop Heber High School could accommodate extra pupils.
Representing Malpas, borough councillor Ann Wright (Con) who couldn’t attend the committee by procedural rules as her home overlooks the site, Cllr Eveleigh Moore-Dutton said: “The land is the main gateway into the beautiful and unique village of Malpas, providing iconic views into the village's heritage, with outstandingly important landscape.”
Chairman Cllr Myles Hogg (Con) felt the issue was ‘housing numbers against the possible destruction of the village’.
Deputy chairman Cllr Jill Houlbrook told the committee she had ‘rarely heard such coherent views’ from objectors.
Afterwards, Rachel Redshaw from the Action Against Greenfields pressure group said: “The hard work we put in has paid off and our supporters have been brilliant.
“Common sense prevailed and they didn't just accept the ‘housing number supply’ argument, they looked at all the issues.”
Gladman are expected to appeal.
