Appeal to build new homes near Market Drayton thrown out

It comes after developers were looking to overturn a decision by councillors to turn down plans to build 20 homes on land adjacent the Birds Nest in Audlem, near Market Drayton.

The appeal was launched after Cheshire East Council threw out the proposal after concerns were raised about the impacts the scheme would have on the environment.

The council also received six letters from local residents who raised concerns about the oversupply of housing in the village, the visual impact of the countryside, and flooding.

Inspector Siobhan Watson said: "The main issues are the effect of the development upon the character and appearance of the countryside, the effect of the development upon ecology, the effect of the development upon the living conditions of the occupiers of Birds Nest in respect of privacy, and whether the proposal makes adequate provision for affordable housing.

"The extension of the built up area of Audlem into the appeal site would encroach into the countryside and have a suburbanising effect which would destroy the rural character of the site.

"On the other hand, the development would have an economic benefit due to the short term construction period and the longer term use of local businesses.

"It would have a significant social benefit by the provision of dwellings in a sustainable location.

"However, the economic gain and the increase in housing numbers are outweighed by the combination of the harm to the countryside and the failure of the proposal to secure affordable housing."

News of the appeal being thrown out has been welcomed by Audlem Parish Council.

A statement on behalf of the council sates: "Councillors are very pleased at the outcome of the appeal as it justifies the many hours of work put in by the planning group at both the original application stage and the subsequent appeal.

"Similarly, it vindicates the huge effort put in by volunteers to produce the neighbourhood plan and the residents who supported it.

"Her decision confirms the theory of protecting the open countryside and the relevance of the settlement boundary which is the thrust of the housing policies in the neighbourhood plan.

"From her comments it is clear that the confirmation of the Cheshire East five-year housing land supply and the housing numbers required from each local service centre are increasingly important if we are to have confidence that the community views outlined in the neighbourhood plan are endorsed."