A CONTROVERSIAL housing development in Culcheth has been turned down amid claims a wildlife habitat has been damaged by tree thinning before any planning application was granted.

The proposals for nine homes on Culcheth Drive were denied at a Town Hall meeting of Warrington Borough Council's planning committee on Thursday night.

It heard Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council, and resident Peter Shaw, complain over trees that have been chopped down.

Clr Jacqui Johnson, representing the parish council, said: "From the beginning, we've had concerns over the loss of wildlife and trees."

Mr Shaw said: "Residents have expressed their views in the strongest terms.

"We are very upset about damage done to the woodland and habitat, before permission has been granted.

"Around 50 per cent of the tree canopy has gone."

The application has previously been rejected, and developers told the committee concerns had been carefully considered.

Liam Armstrong, acting for the applicant, said 'all reasons for refusal' had been eradicated.

Cllr Chris Vobe (Culcheth and Glazebury - LAB) spoke against the application, and said there was 'strong opposition'.

He said: " This part of the village is not suitable for any further burden on the highway.

"It is a wildly out of context proposal."

Cllr Vobe added the new homes would be 'out of keeping' with neighbouring properties.

The application was turned down unanimously by the planning committee.

During the debate, the issue of thinning trees before an application has been granted was raised town-wide by Cllr Bob Barr (Lymm - LD).

He said: "Pre-application clearance has taken place.

"I don't know if that was legal or illegal felling."

Clr Barr asked for guidance from planning officers on whether any measures could be taken to prevent applicants from clearing trees prior to permission.

The council said tree protection orders can be issued for any trees deemed in need of protection.