Farmworker can't have new house

An Audlem farmworker has lost his bid to build a new home in the open countryside.

Cheshire East has refused outline planning consent for a new house on a greenfield site off Woore Road, near Audlem.

The worker has operated a small agricultural contracting business for 10 years and works on several local farms.

He wanted the go-ahead to build a house near the shed where he stores his tractors and farm equipment.

Planning rules allow new homes in the open countryside where they can act an infill for a 'small gap' between neighbouring houses.

But a Cheshire East planning officer has ruled that the existing 80 metre frontage cannot be considered "a small gap" and, although planning policies allow new houses for agricultural workers they have to be essential for the efficient working of the enterprise.

"The application includes no information on functional or financial need of a property as an agricultural workers dwelling, says the report.

The response of neighbours has been mixed, with two concerned at noise from the site and the impact on the street scene and one letter of support.

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.