A planning application has been submitted to create a new traveller site two miles north of Chester.

Heine Planning Consultancy submitted the application to Cheshire West and Chester Council, seeking permission to develop pitches for two families - on land just off Park Gate Road.

The proposed site would contain two pitches, each with a mobile home, touring caravan, small day room and space for the parking of vehicles or work trailers.

The application is part retrospective, with a timber panel fence already installed on the inside of the existing hedgerows and vegetation cleared.

Pointing to the existing number and scale of properties in Mollington, the application described the location as "an acceptable location for residential uses".

The application added: "There are other dwellings in the locality and this is not considered an unacceptable location for residential uses.

"This would not be disproportionate the to the scale of existing properties in Mollington or the residential institution at Crabwall Hall Care Home.

"The site fronts a busy road where there is other roadside development.

"It is considered that the setting is capable of assimilating the proposed development without causing any significant harm to the character and appearance of the local area."

Located just 100m from Crabwall Manor Hotel, the site sits on the edge of Mollington - a small commuter village with a primary school and village hall.

The site would also be accessible to local services and facilities by public transport.

Pointing to the relatively small scale of the project, the application said: "The proposed site would be smaller than the car park serving the nearby hotel/ spa complex.

"As such, the proposed development would only moderately undermine the purpose of safeguarding the countryside from encroachment."

Reference to the council's failure to allocate land for traveller sites was also made.

It added: "There are no alternative pitches currently available in the district which would be available to the applicants and which are in or around a settlement.

"The council has failed to allocate any land for traveller sites in any urban area or derelict land.

"There has been a long-term failure by the Council to meet the needs of the gypsy and traveller community through the planning system and there is little prospect alternative sites would be available in the short or medium term.

"It is argued that the proposed development would be appropriate development in a Grey Belt location."

Low provision of pitches for the traveller community was raised in the application as a significant factor in the development.

Seven children who will live on the site were also raised as a concern - listing them as "a primary consideration" within the proposals.

The agent added: "The best interests of the child is a primary consideration, which in this case includes the interests of maintaining access to education and providing adequate living conditions for the sites' seven resident children.

"The best interests of the children would, in principle, be served by a permanent and secure home.

"The benefits of this development to the best interests of the children, carries significant weight.

"The applicants, who are homeless, require somewhere to live and have good reason to want to live here as Chester is this is where their extended family live."

Emphasis was given to the location's existing water and electricity supply, with a mains sewer already running through the site.

Plans also include an interim measure, whereby an existing timber clad building just within the site entrance would be used to provide a toilet and shower.

Suggested dayroom plans were also provided but the occupants may rely instead on mobile trailer units.

You can find and comment on the original application here.