The proposals by North West Nantwich Consortium includes up to 1,100 new homes, including up to 30% affordable housing, as well as up to 1.82 ha of business space, a primary school, community facilities, a local centre, allotments and recreational open space.
The Council's planning officers said in the committee report (45-page / 479KB PDF) that, although developing within the open countryside would be contrary to the Council's local policies, because the Council cannot demonstrate a five year housing land supply in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the NPPF's presumption in favour of sustainable development would apply.
The officers said that the "important" affordable housing contribution the scheme would make was a "significant benefit". Although they said there would be some visual impact resulting from the loss of open countryside, they considered that due to the relationship with existing urban form, this would not be so significantly adverse to justify a refusal of planning permission.
"The proposal is a sustainable form of development, and in the absence of any identified significant adverse impacts a recommendation of approval is made," the officers concluded.
Grant of planning permission is subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement which could include financial contributions of around £3 million for education and £4m for highway improvements.
