MORE than 180 new homes will be built in Davenham and Kingsmead after developers won two planning inquiries.

Up to 113 homes will be built at Hill Top Farm, in Kingsmead, after Russell Homes won its appeal and up to 70 homes are in line for land off Fountain Lane, in Davenham, after Richborough Estates won a separate appeal.

The inquiry into the Hill Top Farm development opened on May 12 and the inspector, Philip Major has announced his decision to allow the plans, which had been turned down by Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC).

CWAC argued that it has a five year supply of housing sites in the area, which means greater consideration should be given to its development plan, and this housing estate goes against the plan because the site is in the open countryside and beyond the settlement boundaries of Kingsmead and Davenham.

Residents and both Kingsmead and Davenham parish councils also argued that plans to create a traffic light-controlled junction at Hartford Road, the A556 and the access road to the new estate would create safety issues.

While Mr Major agreed that CWAC does have the benchmark five-year housing supply, he said that there would be a number of benefits.

Mr Major said: "In my judgement none of these matters establishes that there would be harm which is significant or demonstrably outweighs the benefits, the most significant of which include housing provision, affordable housing provision and improvements to the highway network.

"The material considerations in support of the development are such that they outweigh any development plan conflict.

"It follows that the appeal should succeed."

A public inquiry into plans for Fountain Lane was held between April 28 and May 1 by inspector William Fieldhouse.

This also centred on the issue of whether or not CWAC had its five-year housing supply as the plans were turned down because the site was classed as open countryside.

Mr Fieldhouse also agreed that CWAC has its five-year housing supply but that the benefits of the development, including a number of financial contributions as well as social and economic benefits, are too great to turn down.

These include £46,900 to improve children's play facilities at Butchers Stile field, £14,507 towards funding a new 3G pitch at Moss Farm and £4,500 towards an extended 20mph scheme in Davenham.

Mr Fieldhouse said: "On balance, the significant social and economic benefits, along with the potential environmental benefits arising from the creation of an enhanced settlement edge, are of sufficient weight to clearly outweigh the moderate harm that would be caused meaning that the proposal would represent sustainable development as defined in the National Planning Policy Framework."