WORRIED residents will have to wait at least another month before discovering whether a controversial development in Weaverham will be permitted.
But Vale Royal Borough Council's planning chief has told the Chronicle the application is likely to be recommended for approval despite fierce objections.
Community leaders this week met residents fighting Cuddington-based developers Anaconda Investments' retrospective application. The company is erecting six flats and eight three-storey homes on land between Church Lane and Greenwood Close.
Members of Weaverham Parish Council, the Weaverham Trust and residents met Weaver Vale MP Mike Hall on Friday at the home of Greenwood Close resident Norma Carter. They saw how the ongoing construction work is 'overshadowing' her home, and heard claims that the plots have not been built in the correct positions.
Last year the council carried out an independent survey of the site and found that blocks A, B and C 'were not occupying the footprint shown on the approved plan'. The one adjacent to Mrs Carter's house was 3m out, said planning officer Claire Coombes. The company was informed and advised to stop further development and submit a new planning application. Building has since continued and it has now applied for retrospective planning permission.
Borough planning chief Richard Ellison said the application should will go before Vale Royal's planning committee on March 20.
He added: 'As long as the work meets our standards and policies it is likely to be recommended for approval. If not, Anaconda will probably launch an appeal and would have a reasonable prospect of success.'
But borough and parish councillor Doug Shingler said: 'The views from the rear of Mrs Carter's home indicate quite clearly the terrible aspect which the residents now have to suffer.'
Fellow borough and parish Cllr Richard Gorrill wrote to planners claiming a number of the borough's policies and initial terms of agreement were contravened by the developers.
Bosses at Anaconda Investments, based at Cuddington, were unavailable for comment this week, but have previously said residents should be 'pleased' with the development, which is creating a number of jobs.
dave.goodban@cheshirenews.co.uk
