FARNDON residents have breathed a sigh of relief after plans to build more than 100 homes in the village were overturned.
At a meeting of Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC)’s strategic planning committee, officers rejected proposals by Gladman Developers to build 105 homes on land opposite Brewery House on Churton Road.
The plans would offer a broad range of houses ranging from two to five-bedroom properties from first time buys to larger family homes, with 35% of the homes affordable.
But angry residents had been so opposed to the plans that they started a petition calling on CWaC to reject the plans, which gathered 600 signatures. They argued that the development would place ‘unbearable’ pressure on local services, particularly health and education, and also claims that along with other schemes, this development would increase the number of homes in the village by 30%.
The Farndon neighbourhood development steering group also objected, insisting local services would be ‘greatly overstretched’ by the three estates already approved since April 2012 and the homes would ‘dominate’ the landscape.
Cllr John Hillyer, on behalf of the steering group, told the meeting they did not object to Farndon being developed over the next 20 years but they did object to it happening before the neighbourhood plan has been prepared.
And parish council chairman Cllr Sue Rowlandson suggested the health centre was already ‘stretched to breaking point’ and at times it was difficult to get an appointment.”
Councillors agreed permission should be withheld and the developers have now appealed.
