Cheshire East has deferred an application to convert the historic Swan Hotel at Bucklow Hill into housing because councillors want more information about how the property was marketed.

The council’s planners recommended the northern planning committee approve the application from PH Property Holdings Limited and Premier Inn Hotels to partly demolish some of the existing buildings on the Chester Road site and convert the older part of the pub and adjacent building to the north for residential use.

Altogether 17 homes are planned for the site.

Ward councillor Charlotte Leach, speaking as a visiting councillor, spoke in favour of the housing scheme.

“This has been a carefully thought out proposal that's been shaped through engagement with local stakeholders and the local community including myself as ward member, Rostherne Parish Council, which sits within my ward, and Millington Parish Council, which is in the adjacent ward of High Legh,” Cllr Leach told Wednesday’s meeting.

“I recognise that there are a small number of objections from local residents on the planning portal. However, I've looked at these in detail and I could not find a single objection within Rostherne parish, where the majority of the site sits.”

“I think the proposals we have in front of us today represent the best use of the site.”

Rob Pattinson, speaking for the objectors, said: “The site has only ever been marketed for housing. The marketing brochure only showed the site with houses on it.

“The report [to the committee] suggests there has been no interest in the site from a new operator, which is simply not the case. My client contacted the selling agent and Whitbread by phone and in writing a number of months ago to offer to buy the historic buildings and return them to a gastro pub and community hub. They were rebuffed.”

He added: “If you decide to approve this application, then you will be doing so on the basis of statements which are simply not correct.”

Several objectors were asked by Cllr Lesley Smetham whether they had registered the site as an asset of community value.

Most said they were unaware until recently it had been put up for sale.

Resident Richard Finch told the committee: “Just because the building does not suit the business model of Whitbread doesn't mean it isn't viable for someone else. Local residents are desperate for the pub to be maintained.”

He said Mere Parish Council was trying to register it as an asset of community value.

“We've had very little information. We only knew of this meeting on Friday,” he said, adding that, because of that, he was speaking as a resident and not on behalf of the parish council.

Developer’s agent John Sutcliffe said: “The revised scheme will deliver important heritage benefits by repairing and converting the former public house and outbuildings to housing and removing that unattractive modern extension.”

He said the property had been advertised for two and half years and ‘no formal offers have been received by Whitbread, Gerald Eve [marketing company] or PH Property from any organisation or individual to acquire the site for public house or hotel use’.

When questioned about the marketing, he said: “I do acknowledge that, as part of those marketing particulars, there was feasibility for a residential scheme within this market particulars, but it was marketed for a range of uses.”

He said Mere Parish Council was made aware of the proposal.

Cllr Nick Mannion proposed the application be deferred for more information about the marketing in terms of the loss of a community facility.

Cllr Paul Findlow seconded the deferral.

The vote was seven in favour of deferring and five against.