HOUSING plans in Davenham were unanimously refused by councillors in Chester.

Proposals for 52 homes at land off Green Lane were criticised for extending the village into open countryside and fears were also raised about noise from the neighbouring A556.

The development was discussed by Cheshire West and Chester Council's (CWAC) planning committee on June 2.

Cllr Elton Watson, from Davenham Parish Council, said it was important to maintain a boundary separating Davenham from other settlements and there were also concerns about congestion in the village and access to the development along Green Lane.

Cllr Helen Weltman, ward councillor for Davenham and Moulton, supported the parish council comments and added: "Development should be concentrated in Northwich while protecting the character and individuality of places like Davenham."

Stephen Irvine, the agent speaking on behalf of developer Bloor Homes North West, said the proposals should be viewed in the same way as the scheme for 36 homes, which was passed in 2013.

"When this council approved the adjacent scheme in 2013 the argument was that the development rounded off the settlement boundary and the landscape impact was acceptable," he said.

"We believe our scheme should be viewed similarly."

He said that the character of the village would not be affected as the site cannot be seen from Davenham or from the A556.

"How can you affect the village setting or character when you can't see it from public areas?" he said.

Cllr Norman Wright, from the planning committee, proposed that the plans should be refused.

Cllr Jill Houlbrook agreed and said: "We need to retain the buffer between two settlements, that's the whole point of having it there.

"I can't imagine from the noise on our site visit, which wasn't the busiest period for traffic and we were standing on the opposite side of the field from the A556 and the noise of the traffic was very very evident - what kind of screening can you put along the field that would mean the acoustics are good enough to cancel that noise.

"It's never going to happen."

All councillors voted to refuse the plans.