RESIDENTS of Swanlow Lane in Winsford have become outraged after a housing giant decided to build a sales cabin for a nearby housing development without planning consent.

Bellway Homes which is looking to sell houses for its Swanlow Fields development, surprised residents when it started to clear the ground and erect a sales cabin off Swanlow Lane, blocking a view the residents say they are proud of.

Bellway has since put in a retrospective planning application stating that the cabin will remain in use for six months but a decision by the council is yet to be made.

Bellway Homes had not replied to the Guardian’s request for a comment on the matter by the time it went to press, but one outraged resident has been told by representatives of the housing developer that they are fully aware of being in breach of regulations.

Sue Buckley, Swanlow Lane resident, said: “The representative from Bellway Homes, Jane Aspinall, said that they know they are in breach of regulations but have no intention of delaying work as they are not breaking the law.

“It is a disgrace to Bellway Homes, as is their total disregard of the rights of local residents, and of the planning authorities who are paid, via our taxes, to enforce the regulations. Mr Rod Brookfield, senior enforcement officer, has incidentally, been very supportive of residents in this matter.”

Rod Brookfield, who Sue refers to, contacted Bellway at the beginning of December to tell order that ‘work must stop’ but Bellway ignored the instruction.

Carl Nagaitis, who also lives in Swanlow Lane, has lodged an official objection to the retrospective planning application.

He said: “We strongly object to the fact that Bellway Homes have already put a sales office on this site before they had even applied for planning permission and have advised that they will be opening it to the public on Saturday 14th January, although they will still not have received a decision from the planning department re their application by that date.

“The construction vehicles have already caused general disruption to traffic on what is already a very busy road at certain times of the day, as well as the parking of vehicles on the verges has caused safety issues both for pedestrians and other vehicles."