A NEW 27-home development off Croxton Lane has been approved by Cheshire East Council.

The plans, which include 19 detached houses – 17 four bedroom and two five bedroom dwellings – and an additional eight single bedroom apartments, were passed at a planning meeting on May 25.

The eight apartments are due to be affordable housing, with Crewe-based Renew Land Developments taking control of the one-hectare site.

Plans also involve the demolition of one existing property, 36 Croxton Lane, to allow access to the new cul-de-sac which is bordered to the south by Waterside Way.

Although the site lies within green ‘Open Countryside’ space, the decision was made to allow development in keeping with Cheshire East Council’s five-year housing plan.

Approval came after developers agreed to provide eight affordable homes and to maintain some of the existing open space on the site.

Plans for the site, which lies just over half a mile north east of Middlewich town centre, were first submitted back in September 2015.

A decision had initially been scheduled for April 27, but was pushed back to May in order to allow for a site visit.

Middlewich town councillor and Cheshire East Council ward member Bernice Walmsley, who sits on the planning committee, said: “This application was given plenty of attention, including a site visit by members of the planning committee.

“During the visit, concern was raised that the access to the site would be too close to the change in speed limit along this stretch of Croxton Lane.

“It was therefore agreed that the position of the sign showing the change in speed limit would be amended to make the entrance to the development safer for everyone.”

The 27 new proposed homes join hundreds of others currently being built around town, including Morris Homes’ Oakwood View development and Bellway Homes’ Oak Meadow site – both off Warmingham Lane.