A COUNCILLOR has lambasted blueprints which have allowed 13 new homes on the edge of the former Burtonwood air base.

An outline application to nominally build six properties on land near Ivy Cottage, off Burtonwood Road, was approved by the borough's development control committee back in March.

But a separate, full planning permission was then sought by Harron Homes to construct five detached and eight semi-detached properties there.

This so exasperated Whittle Hall councillor Les Hall that he questioned why councillors bothered even attending development control committee meetings. He told colleagues that if a developer was allowed to introduce a more than 100 per cent increase in the density of housing plots, they were "wasting their time".

Council planning bosses stressed the plans in question were part of a fresh application and should be decided on their merits.

A site neighbour supported Clr Hall, telling councillors that the proximity of the homes would severely affect his outlook and the layout "demonstrated a total lack of imagination".

In response, Paul Leadbetter, spokesman for Harron Homes' agent, planning consultancy MPSL, said the planned development met all the council's space standards.

He claimed the package was also "in keeping with the rural character of Burtonwood Road".

Voting on the proposals was close - a motion by Clr Street calling for them to be rejected was defeated by the casting vote of committee chairman Clr Garry Cross.

Supporting approval, Clr Cross said he was in favour because it met the council's guidelines on minimum distances between properties.