COUNCILLORS will be told to recommend a village site for 45 houses, even though residents fear it will bring traffic chaos to their community.
Farndon villagers have fought bitterly against the allocation of land on Townfield Lane for housing under Chester's draft local plan.
A public inquiry inspector chose the site in August over a smaller site for 20 houses on Barton Road which the city council had previously chosen.
The city council cabinet decided last night (Thursday) to recommend that the full council follow the inspector's guidelines and allow the Townfield Lane site to be allocated on the plan.
But, sympathising with residents' concerns about traffic congestion, they agreed a development brief
would be carried out in consultation with local groups, indicating broadly what the development would be.
The cabinet's decision came after they heard they could incur substantial costs by opposing the inspector's recommendations.
Strategic director for development Andy Farrall told them: 'If you went against recommendations you would get challenged (by the landowner).
'You would also be unable to meet the timescale for the local plan, meaning that you would have to carry out a strategic environmental assessment of all development plans.
'Bearing in mind that the local plan is one of the key criteria for your planning delivery grant, there would be financial implications.'
It is now up to the full council to decide whether to follow the cabinet's recommendations next Wednesday.
Townfield Road residents are concerned the housing development would lead to increased traffic, especially in the morning and afternoon at nearby Farndon Primary School.
They say facilities are already stretched and the development would not be in keeping with the village.
One Townfield Road resident said: 'At 3pm it is a nightmare - you can't get up or down the road as it is. It is going to be complete gridlock.'
She added: 'If the council chooses to let this development go ahead to avoid legal costs it could set the scene for other communities. We are hoping the councillors will support us.'
