Councillors agree that building houses on a small site landlocked between two housing estates is the only probable option.

Ray and Margaret Burgess have submitted plans to demolish an existing farm house on Moss Farm, Moss Lane, Eaton, and redevelop the site with five residential properties consisting of two bungalows and three two-storey family homes.

The application was discussed at Thursday's Congleton Town Council planning meeting, which was conducted via Zoom.

Cllr Robert Douglas recommended the town council object to the proposal because he stated the plans would result in two category A trees and one category B tree which have a life "of more than 40 years" being "destroyed".

The plans would also damage three oak trees and a mixed species of boundary which consists of alder, oak, ash, sycamore, elder and hawthorn, for which Cllr Douglas added: "I think that is totally against our policy destroying such vegetation and trees that will survive over the next 40 years."

Cllr Douglas proposed that the application should be objected to on the grounds of loss of trees and damage to the open countryside.

The application forms a little island in the middle of two Jones Homes housing estates, which are currently being constructed on Manchester Road.

Cllr Amanda Martin stated that the area was allocated for housing and added: "I don't know what anybody on the council thinks they should do with this little bit of land other than build houses on it because it's bang in the middle of this housing estate.

"We could recommend that it's turned into a park, but the owner is obviously wanting to make some money from this and I don't think he would be persuaded to give it up from housing to a park, and I doubt the council would be willing to buy it and turn into a park at this stage in proceedings.

"Given he has undertaken to preserve a fringe of trees around the site, I would say that we shouldn't object to it because it is a strategic planning site."

Cllr Robert Helmsley stated that it was "nice" to see bungalows included in a planning application and he felt that should be "commended" due to there not being many proposed in housing developments despite there being a demand for them.

Cllr Duffy seconded Cllr Douglas' proposal to object to the plans on the grounds of loss of trees, but the motion fell due to a lack of councillors voting to support the proposal.

Cllr Kay Wesley proposed no objection to the application due to it being in the middle of a housing estate and there not being any other possible use with the space proposed, but the town council recommended the developer plants replacement trees.

The proposal was carried.

Eaton Parish Council submitted their comments on the application via Cheshire East Council's planning portal and said: "Whilst the small extra development is landlocked within the new Jones Estate, we would wish to stress that no construction vehicles - HGVs and no future residential access should be allowed on to Moss Lane."

Residents have until 29th July to submit their comments on the application, which can be accessed here and Cheshire East has set 24th August as the decision target date.