PLANNING officers have recommended that 113 homes are built at Hill Top Farm in Davenham – just two months after the proposal was pulled due to the council seemingly meeting its five-year housing supply.

Russel Homes Limited, along with Robert Matthews and Mr And Mrs Igoe, want to build on the land, which sits behind the Kingsmead estate, and close to Hartford Blue Bridge.

Cheshire West and Chester Council's strategic planning board will discuss the application at a meeting on Thursday, October 23 at the authority's Chester HQ.

But the meeting comes just two months after the applicants withdrew the proposal after being told the council had met its five-year housing supply.

The proposed development will have its vehicular access off the A556 Chester Road opposite the existing junction with Hartford Road, which leads from Davenham.

This will result in the creation of a signalised crossroads junction that will include Hartford Road.

Both Kingsmead and Davenham parish councils have objected to the plans on the grounds of highway concerns, environmental impact and a lack of facilities.

The parish councils were concerned about access to the development off the A556 at a point, by the junction with Hartford Road, where there have been a number of fatalities.

But despite concerns regarding the traffic and highways issues, planners have recommended to the committee that the application be approved.

The report states: "The site is in a location on the edge of the built form of Kingsmead and is physically contained on all sides by existing development. It is in part previously developed land and is well screened. The proposed development is considered to meet the relevant planning policy tests in respect of its design and layout and impacts on biodiversity, trees, rural character and residential amenity.

"Appropriate provision is made for open space, education and affordable housing. In these respects the development would not be harmful, but an absence of harm is not considered sufficient to outweigh the conflict with planning policy identified above.

"However, in this particular case the proposed development would result in a number of highway improvements. These are necessary to make the development acceptable but will also have significant benefits in terms of the safe and efficient operation of the public highway and linkages between Kingsmead and Davenham.

"As described above, it is considered that these benefits should be given significant weight in the consideration of this application."

To find out the result of the meeting, visit northwichguardian.co.uk on Friday morning.