Planning chiefs have given their backing to dozens of new homes on farmland near a Cheshire village.

Cheshire West and Chester's planning committee met on Tuesday 6 October, where they rubber-stamped an application for up to 86 properties on a site in Kelsall.

The outline plans also involve demolition of seven existing buildings to make way for the new development.

The site on agricultural land at Green Lane Farm spans nearly six acres, with the scheme having been submitted by the farm's owners D O & L Blything & Sons.

The plans had been called in to the committee by ward councillor Ted Lush.

He raised concerns relating to it being outside the settlement boundary of Kelsall, its "encroachment into the countryside", and "blurring the settlement boundaries of Kelsall and Willington", which would cause "harm to the character" of the area.

Addressing the meeting at Ellesmere Port library, Kelsall parish councillor Claire Deruty said the parish council was currently preparing its own neighbourhood plan which would outline how it would address housing targets.

She said: "We are well aware that our village can't deliver less housing than required by Government and local authority targets, however this application is poorly considered and is not the way to do it."

She said concerns had been raised over a number of matters, including congestion near the local primary school, traffic, and "lack of planning" for sewers and drainage.

Speaking in support of the project, planning agent Jon Suckley said there was evidence of unmet housing need in the borough.

He added: "The scale of the development can be accommodated having regard to existing infrastructure.

"Financial contributions will also be secured towards allotments, parks and recreation, youth space, sport pitches, changing facilities, extension to Kelsall Medical Centre and SEN (special educational needs) and primary school education."

Ward councillor Tom Cooper told the meeting that both ward councillors felt the scheme was "uniquely problematic".

He told members: "You're not just here to rubber-stamp you can use your own judgement. We (Kelsall) will hit our housing target with this site. Give us a chance and we can do that in a far better way than this site proposes."

Following a vote the scheme was backed by a majority of six in favour and three against with one abstention.

A total of 30 per cent of the properties will be classed as 'affordable' – a planning term which can means things such as affordable rent, shared ownership or first homes offered below market value.

With the outline application approved, a reserved natters application which sets out specific details of the project will have to be approved in future.