CHESHIRE East is standing by its two reasons for refusing controversial plans to build 225 homes on a ‘treasured wildlife site’ in Knutsford and will defend both at a public inquiry.

The council’s planning officers had recommended the application, which included 30 per cent affordable homes on land east of Longridge, be approved.

But the strategic planning board refused the scheme at the end of last year on the grounds it would represent inappropriate development in the green belt as a result of the impact of the access arrangements upon its openness, also resulting in encroachment, and it would have adverse impact on ecology and the local wildlife site.

The planning board also said the proposal would fail to deliver an effective integrated scheme due to the lack of visual and physical connections and accessibility with the existing development on Longridge.

Emery Planning, acting on behalf of applicant Dewscope Ltd, has since written to the council claiming its second reason for refusal relating to lack of integration with the existing Longridge Estate, ‘provides vague, generalised or inaccurate assertions about the proposal's impact’.

The company asked whether the council was persisting in defending this reason for refusal at appeal.

In an extremely rare occurrence, the strategic planning board yesterday (Tuesday) excluded the press and public while it debated this matter and other legal matters relating to the forthcoming appeal.

The council had issued a briefing note before the planning meeting explaining why it was excluding press and public.

This stated: “Legal counsel has been instructed to advise and appear on its [Cheshire East’s] behalf at the inquiry and their advice is being shared with members and so it is appropriate that the press and the public are excluded from this discussion.”

After the discussion, the vote was held in public and the council decided it would be defending both reasons for refusal at the public inquiry in November.