Plans for 18 homes in the open countryside at Bunbury have been given the go-ahead despite councillors' concerns about the site being unsustainable with no public transport.

Edgefold Homes wants to bulldoze a bungalow and other buildings on land west of Bunbury Lane and replace them with the new builds, including six affordable homes.

The site already has permission for residential development which was granted at appeal by an inspector in 2024 for 20 'first homes'.

Ward councillor Becky Posnett (Conservative), said there were many reasons this latest application should be refused – including it was not for 'first homes'.

Speaking as a visiting councillor, she told Wednesday's (21 October) meeting of the southern planning committee the site was unsustainable.

"The lack of pedestrian infrastructure, the absence of public transport, and the resulting dependency on private vehicles provide compelling grounds for questioning whether this is an appropriate location," said Cllr Posnett.

"Of particular concern is the absence of the safe pedestrian route between the development and the local school."

Objector Isabel Noonan told the committee this was the fourth time she had attended a planning meeting 'to protect this particular piece of land fromdevelopment'.

"The importance of the open countryside in this location was made clear with the dismissal of two previous appeals," she said.

She added: "Occupants of the new homes would rely solely on private motor vehicles for services, as Bunbury has no bus service."

Steve Grimster, the applicant's agent, said: "The updated NPPF (national planning policy framework) affords substantial weight to housing delivery, including the role of small sites.

"The proposal is deliverable and can be completed in 18 months to help meet the borough-wide housing need."

But councillors were still concerned about the location of the site, especially since it had lost its scheduled bus service since the last appeal decision.

Crewe councillor Ben Wye (Labour), said: "I know the area quite well, and I'm very much influenced by the fact that it's not a safe route to school."

Willaston and Rope councillor Allen Gage (non-grouped), criticised the unreliability of Cheshire East's Go-too on-demand bus service in his ward and said this is only service Bunbury residents would have access to and has to be booked well in advance of travelling.

"How can we put six social houses here that people may be forced to accept on the housing list and then they end up being stranded in a location?" he asked.

He added the new residents might not be able to get to work or to family.

But planning officer Daniel Evans said the inspector in 2024 had raised no concerns in terms of sustainability and access to services or to the school.

"I'm struggling to see how the application can be resisted at this point," said Mr Evans.

Crewe councillor Martin Edwards (Labour), said he felt the lack of transport wasn't enough to refuse the application and he moved it be approved, as per officers' recommendations.

Cllr Janet Clowes (Wybunbury, Conservative), who was chairing the meeting, seconded the move to approve.

"As the principle of development on this site has already been settled at appeal, I think the chances of winning any kind of appeal, unless we had some really robust planning reasons, are very remote," she said, adding she empathised with the local community.

Six councillors voting in favour of approval and two abstained.

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