MALPAS residents are celebrating after controversial plans for a new housing development in the village were unanimously rejected.
Parish councillors and residents have been protesting for months against the proposals for seven large family homes, of which three were to be affordable, on greenfield land off Greenfields Lane.
It was feared the development, the site of a former corn depot, could potentially give the green light to further large-scale housing in the area.
A pressure group set up by the village, Action for Greenfields, expressed residents’ concerns that Malpas could ultimately become an ‘urban sprawl’, straining already overstretched resources in the village.
But at a meeting of Cheshire West and Cheshire’s planning committee on Tuesday officers who were shown a 121 signature petition opposing the plans were unanimous in their view that the proposals should be refused.
They referred to the ‘undisputed’ shortage of housing in the borough but ultimately concluded that the provision of just seven houses would represent an inefficient use of the land and that the inappropriate design and layout of the new buildings would appear out of keeping with the character of the village.
Labour planning spokesman Cllr Don Beckett was not satisfied that exceptional circumstances for building on greenfield land had been met, while Cllr Keith Butcher (Lab) did not feel the narrow access would be particularly safe.
Rachel Redshaw, who set up the Action for Greenfields group, said the village are ‘absolutely delighted’ that the proposals were denied.
“We’re thrilled, we just want to thank everyone who gave their support and who helped with our tireless campaign.
“This is one of the battles we have been fighting and we will keep on fighting in the future,” she added.
