Plans for a 178-home scheme in Congleton have been recommended for approval by planners.

The principle of residential development on the land off Back Lane at Radnor Green has already been accepted and this application relates to the southern part of the site approved in outline in 2018.

Members of Cheshire East's strategic planning board will be making a decision on the reserved matters application on Wednesday (November 17) to decide on details such as the access, appearance, layout and parking.

The proposal submitted by Stewart Milne Homes includes 31 affordable homes – these are listed as 13 three-bedroom mews-type dwellings and 18 two-bedroom apartments.

The remaining mews-type properties will be 68 three-bedroom, eight two-bedroom and 12 four-bedroom homes.

There will also be a mix of detached properties. Of these, 27 will be five-bedroom, 29 will have four bedrooms and three will be three-bedroom homes.

In the report due to go before councillors on Wednesday, the planning officer states: "Highways have no objections and whilst the Public Rights of Way team have raised some issues in relation to details of the East – West Greenway this is subject to a condition on the outline approval."

He said concerns raised by the council's ecologist in relation to the possible impacts of the drainage outfall, access track and bridge crossing are also conditions on the outline application and 'the applicant will need to consider the ecological implications of these works as part of the condition discharge'.

Somerford Parish Council has raised concerns including that the houses seem 'tightly packed', 33 of the properties back on to the Congleton Link Road, the majority have no or a very poor view and the parking is insufficient.

Three letters of objection have been received from residents.

One nearby resident said: "We are already faced with the prospect of living on a building site for the next 18 months, which we accepted on purchasing our property, however, the prospect of a further two or three years is not fair on us in terms of mental health, well-being, or our general health."

He added: "The plans indicate new homes directly behind our homes with zero green space. This will severely impact our sunlight and view. The garden will get no sunlight at all and we have a large building of affordable housing visible as well as houses all across us."

The plans have been recommended for approval at the same time as COP26 is held in Glasgow, which has humans questioning our relationship with planet Earth and Nature.

The potential Radnor Green development off've Back Lane does have a significant impact on the environment.

With the areas close proximity to the River Dane and other bodies of water, there is a clear ecological impact from the proposed development.

A planning document states: "The proposed development would result in the loss of a significant area of farmland which is potentially utilised by [Brown Hare] this priority species."

Japanese Knotweed are also under threat from the housing plan. Hedgehogs, Common Toad and Polecat have also been recorded at the site.

There was also concerns for newts raised, though none have been found in a recent survey 250 metres from the site.

A resident of Chesnut Drive said: "Over the last few years, there has been an explosion in housing in Congleton, but absolutely no increase in public services - schools, doctors or dentists.

"The nearest Primary School, Black Firs Primary School, is close to capacity. Additional housing is just going to make access to services worse.

"I also have concern about the loss of natural ground for drainage. Back Lane playing fields severely flooded this winter, which it has not done for in the last 12 years I have been a resident.

"I object on these grounds."

Another planning document states that 54 of the 178 homes must be affordable housing.

The application will be considered by councillors at the next meeting of the strategic planning board which takes place at 10am on Wednesday, November 17, at Macclesfield Town Hall.

A decision will take place on March 22.

You can view the planning application here.

Stewart Milne Homes have been contacted for comment.

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