MOULTON’S MP has agreed to help residents fight changes in a developer’s plans.

When he visited Moulton Parish Council’s annual meeting, villagers told Eddisbury MP Stephen O’Brien that Richborough Estates has applied to change the conditions of its planning permission for a 148-home estate.

These plans, for a development off Barnside Way, were rejected by Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) but given the go-ahead by a planning inspector at appeal, subject to a number of conditions.

Richborough has now applied to change Condition 27, which states ‘There shall be no piling in carrying out site excavation or any other part of the development’.

Residents explained that piled foundations would be needed to overcome the waterlogged nature of the site, which would not support shallow foundations.

They expressed their concerns about how piling on unstable ground would affect their own homes.

Mr O’Brien said: “This is extremely saturated ground with regular issues of saturation and absence of run off, and already has issues with run off from other building in the past.

“It’s a real issue in the area.”

He added: “Ultimately you can build over anything but has the developer factored in how expensive it will be?

“If the build cost is higher then the next thing will be that they can’t build as many affordable homes.

“The whole concept will be under threat.”

Resident Peter Collins said: “Throughout the process we have highlighted to Richborough Estates and to CWAC planning the waterlogged state of the proposed site and the problems experienced by Crosby Builders who struggled to complete the Summerfield Drive development.

“This was not taken into consideration with the current situation of Richborough Estates appealing against the appeal.”