VILLAGERS, the parish council and Jodrell Bank are opposing plans for homes on farmland off Hermitage Lane in Goostrey.

Crabtree Homes is seeking outline planning approval from Cheshire East Council for nine detached market homes and three affordable homes.

Vehicle access would come through Nether Lea off Hermitage Lane to the north of the site.

To gain direct access the existing road would be extended and the hedge removed to make way for a 4.8-metre wide access road.

Jodrell Bank is about three miles from the site, which is classed as grade two agricultural land.

Goostrey Parish Council opposes the application.

A council spokesman said: “It was established in a previously refused application that housing on this site would generate unacceptable adverse radio interference for Jodrell Bank Observatory.

“If the experts at JBO object to this application there will be a conflict with Goostrey Neighbourhood Plan policies.”

A resident said: “The proposed development would result in the loss of best and most versatile agricultural land.

“We understand the levels of interference experienced by Jodrell Bank already exceed agreed acceptable levels.

“Access to the proposed site is via Hermitage Lane and Nether Lea. The current road width of Nether Lea is just over five metres. This is not sufficient to allow service vehicles to pass parked and oncoming vehicles.”

Another resident said: “Access to the proposed site would be through Nether Lea, which would lead to an increase in traffic on this narrow road.”

A third resident said: “The cumulative effects of radio interference and its harm to the work of the Jodrell Bank Observatory by past and potential future developments is now finally being recognised.

“Existing levels of interference already exceed previously agreed acceptable limits.

“The site has been grazing land for cattle for many years, and Goostrey should not suffer a permanent loss of economically valuable agricultural land.

Professor Simon Garrington, Associate Director at Jodrell Bank Observatory said: “Jodrell Bank Observatory now opposes development across a significant part of the consultation zone as a matter of principle to protect the efficiency of the radio telescope’s ability to receive radio emissions from space with a minimum of interference from electrical equipment.

“We oppose this development. The impact from the additional potential contribution to the existing level of interference coming from that direction will be relatively minor.

“This is a general direction in which there is already significant development close to the telescope. The cumulative impact of this and other developments is more significant than each development individually.”