AN OUTLINE planning application for up to 215 homes in Winsford that was resubmitted after the first one was rejected has been approved.

The proposals, which earmarked farmland off Rilshaw Lane, were thrown out by Cheshire West and Chester’s Strategic Planning Committee last November.

The application was refused because it represented 'piecemeal development' – meaning the developers were trying to push through their entire development in pieces rather than as a whole – and failed to ensure the mixed use development of the Station Quarter Urban Extension.

An appeal is currently underway for the original application, but fresh proposals were submitted in March of this year.

The application for outline planning permission – which is generally used to find out whether or not a proposal is likely to be approved by the planning authority before any substantial costs are incurred – was approved at CWAC’s strategic planning meeting on Thursday, July 9.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Gina Lewis, Winsford Town Council, said the council would be happy to back the proposals if a ‘comprehensive management plan’ was submitted by the developers, Gladman Homes.

Cllr Lewis said: “If they (Gladman Homes) did have a comprehensive management plan, we would be happy to go forward.

“A lot of people have been involved in our Neighbourhood Plan, and our residents expect this comprehensive management plan to be here in place before development starts.”

Paul Friston, principal planning officer, said a consultation draft of a development brief will form the ‘comprehensive structure’ that Winsford Town Council is calling for.

The deadline to approve the development brief, which is being drafted by consultants for the council, is December 2015.

Cllr Don Beckett praised Gladman Homes for offering to make a number of contributions, including a footpath/cycleway to the Flashes and a future footpath over the River Weaver.

Cllr Beckett, who proposed a motion to accept the application that was seconded by Cllr Howard Greenwood, said: “If you look at the latest report, you’ll see that the changes the developers have made is reflected on the soundness of the Neighbourhood Plan.

“And instead of pieces being dealt separately, we are hopefully going to get a masterplan, which will hopefully serve the purpose of Winsford and all that community well.”