CHESTER'S rural areas could lose out because of a ban on the building of new homes across the district.
The success of urban regeneration schemes such as the Old Port and the Boughton Canal Corridor has led to an anticipated oversupply of housing across the district meaning limits will be exceeded.
But the ban means rural areas may feel they are the biggest losers since urban dwellers are already benefiting from a substantial growth in the number of new flats and houses.
Malpas Parish Council is among those being consulted on proposed supplementary planning guidance drawn up by Chester City Council to manage the supply of new housing.
Exceptions such as affordable homes, where there is an identified local need and dwellings for agricultural workers will be allowed, but rural communities will have to fight hard to ensure they can continue to evolve in a sustainable way.
Malpas parish chairman Anna Patten said: 'Whilst we support, in principle, the city council's recommendations we feel that if it is rigorously applied to Malpas it may exacerbate our current problems.
'We would argue that historically the urban areas have benefited from regeneration at the expense of some of the rural parts of the district, particularly those at the greatest distance, such as Malpas.'
Arguing the case for Malpas, Cllr Patten said the village was different from many other settlements within the district because of its relative isolation from the urban area.
She said: 'Malpas residents are less likely to look to Chester for their employment opportunities and are therefore less dependent on the economic and urban regeneration of the city and have benefited less from that which has already taken place.
'As a result Malpas has developed a degree of self sufficiency, maintaining a larger number of shops and businesses than many communities of a comparable size and having a greater proportion of its population either self-employed or working for local enterprises.
'It is very important for the future of Malpas that we retain and attract local employment opportunities, particularly in light of the difficulties currently experienced in the agricultural sector.
'It is equally important to retain a good and balanced range of housing to meet those needs.'
Cllr Patten pointed out that Malpas Parish Council itself is currently insisting on no further development within the village until drainage problems have been sorted out.
However, the chairman said over the long run it was felt there was a need for larger family homes.
She added: 'The majority of schemes for new housing which have been approved in Malpas in recent years have been for smaller, low cost dwellings.
'What Malpas lacks are a number of larger 3-4 bedroom detached houses.
'Unfortunately many of the applications for larger houses are unacceptable because they are sited in open countryside or sensitive areas within the village envelope.'
