TATTENHALL is a ‘village under siege’ from developers who want to build hundreds of new homes in the community.

That’s the view of Cheshire West and Chester Council leader Mike Jones who spoke for the village at a public inquiry into controversial appeals by three developers whose planning applications on greenfield land were rejected by the authority.

But developers Taylor Wimpey, Barretts and Ashley Wall gave evidence of the economic and social benefits the schemes would bring at the opening of the inquiry.

Redrow has already been granted permission for 70 homes in Tattenhall on land at the rear of Harding Avenue after its application was resubmitted.

Staunch opponent Cllr Jones told the Winsford inquiry that if the ‘reckless developments’ went ahead, they would ‘totally undermine’ the village’s Neighbourhood Plan, which was launched this week.

He said: “Tattenhall is a village under siege from development and needs a local framework to encourage sustainable development for the whole community, which is exactly what the plan seeks to provide.

“It’s highly understandable vision is to evolve and expand as a vibrant and distinctive village whilst continuing to respect and reflect the views of its community and provide an outstanding quality of life for current and future generations.

"If these applications are approved it’d fundamentally undermine our Neighbourhood Plan, become totally development-led and not influenced by the community."

Taylor Wimpey’s 110-house plan includes 35% affordable homes, car parking, open space, landscaping and ecological mitigation works at land opposite Adari in Chester Road.

The firm says its scheme would create £1.5m extra expenditure and create 68 jobs per year, as well as improving biodiversity through the provision of four new ponds for amphibians.

Barretts, who want to build 68 homes on land opposite Brook Hall Cottages on Chester Road, said the area was ‘a sustainable location capable of obtaining an appropriate level of growth’.

While developer Ashley Wall, whose proposal involves 137 homes, open space and associated works at land to the rear of Greenlands, said the site had been ‘carefully considered’ by planning officers.

The draft Neighbourhood Plan, which has been in preparation for two years by local residents, is the first to be submitted to CWaC and aims to give villagers a voice in decisions affecting their area.

Public comments on the plan will be considered by an independent Local Examiner to ensure its policies and proposals line up with other local and national planning policies before villagers are asked to vote on the proposal in a local referendum.

The draft plan stipulates that future growth based on large scale, inappropriate development will not be supported by the community, and that any new developments meet the needs of all sections of the community.

One Cheshire West resident present at the inquiry said the proposed housing developments secured a future for young people.

He said: "It is all very well for those residents who already have secure mortgages but what about young couples desperate to buy their first home?

"We desperately need more homes in this borough."

The inquiry continues.