PLANS for another housing estate in Middlewich will leave existing residents ‘penned in’.

That was the message from neighbours living in Chestnut Close who fear plans to build 12 houses at the former Croxton Nurseries site in Croxton Lane will severely diminish their quality of life.

Father-of-two Ian Edwards, 37, said the development would mean houses would be built at the back and side of his property.

“I will be penned in,” he said.

“I’ll have houses to the back and the side of me and will be losing all my privacy all together.”

His neighbour Colin Rose, who has lived on the small estate since it was built 15 years ago, is also unhappy at the prospect.

“The council say it will improve the quality of life, well it won’t improve the quality of my life,” he said.

“From the back of our garden we have got a view that looks out onto the fields and that is potentially going to disappear – I’m going to end up with the gable end of a house 10 foot from my back garden.”

The residents are also questioning the need to build more houses in the current economic climate.

Mr Rose said: “I don’t think there’s really a need for housing at the moment. It’s unnecessary when you look at the volume of property for sale in Middlewich – there’s even those new houses on the dual carriageway that haven’t sold and they’re affordable.”

But Clr Barry Moran, portfolio holder for planning and economic development at Congleton Borough Council, said that the council still had to make provisions for houses.

“As far as the borough council is concerned there will continue to be the need for further housing provision in the future,” he said.

“Planning applications such as this one will be considered on its merits and taking into account national, regional and local policies.”

The residents are also concerned about the extra traffic the development will bring.

Mr Rose added: “Croxton Lane between 5pm and 6pm coming into Middlewich is ridiculous, yet the council decided to run a traffic survey at 2pm in the afternoon and said there’s no problem.”

The residents have submitted their objections to Congleton Borough Council and the plans are due to go before a planning committee in the new year.

What do you think about the development? Let us know on our website middlewichguardian.co.uk.