PROPOSALS to develop land around Middlewich’s Brooks Lane, with a marina and up to 114 new homes, have moved a step closer to reality.

Cheshire East Council has approved plans for the site off Road Beta subject to conditions – with developer Intertechnic required to make some changes before work can begin.

The plans were approved after a mammoth two-and-half hour long discussion by councillors, which largely revolved around if the proposals fit the newly-passed Brooks Lane masterplan, which lays out how CEC would like the land to be used.

At the heart of the debate were concerns over noise for the proposed houses, and if the planned 18 marina berths were in line with the masterplan’s desire to see ‘up to 50’.

Cllr Mike Hunter, Labour member for Middlewich, said: “Now that the [masterplan] has been altered to up to 50, I don’t think 20 is really adequate and I think questions should be asked.

“Middlewich is using heritage and canals as a major boost to our economy — we need to make sure that as many of these berths can be produced as possible.”

Intertechnic lodged its plans with CEC back in 2017 after seeing a first planning application for a marina in Middlewich rejected by councillors, who wanted a council masterplan to be produced first.

In a report, CEC officers said the development had been reduced from 137 to up to 114 homes, which includes 16 retirement apartments, and the design and layout of the area will be resolved through the reserved matters application.

Cllr Stewart Gardiner, Conservative, said: “We have to say at the very least this layout is not acceptable and that has to be specified in the decision notice — otherwise, we will be holding to ransom the people of Middlewich.

“The reason we have a masterplan is to ensure that we get the best development opportunities for Middlewich going forward. This application pre-dates the council’s decision to amend the [masterplan].

“At the very least the applicant should have the opportunity to revisit this.”

While an ambition for up to 50 marina berths was a key issue, independent Cllr David Jefferay insisted this was not ‘grounds for refusal’.

This view was shared by Cllr Ashley Farrall, Labour, who proposed to add conditions to the proposals – including the requirement for at least 30 marina berths.

Further details on the design and layout of the scheme will be put forward in a reserved matters application.