A ROW has broken out after councillors approved plans to build housing on part of Hartford campus.

The ruling Labour group on the borough council's planning committee ignored advice from their official planning officers - and voted to approve the idea.

The outline scheme involves building some 60 houses on the rough car park, near Hazelmere Close.

But the move has angered Hartford Parish Council and the borough councillors for the ward of Hartford and Whitegate, Clr Shirley Harris and Clr Keith Musgrave.

Clr Harris said of the decision: "We are all flabbergasted.

"We had heard on the grapevine that it could happen but didn't know how it could in the face of other recent refusals."

She added: "The college must have proved to certain members of the council that they are doing enough to make a case for the development of the land.

"Clr Musgrave and I will be making a statement at the full council meeting.

"We might have lost this battle - but we wait to see if we've lost the war."

Clr Keith Musgrave added: "I'm very surprised and angry, the land is not allocated for housing, it is in open countryside and at present we have 429 houses over the required supply until 2006.

"I'm very concerned about this and it is my belief that some Labour councillors have been lobbied on this matter."

The decision came at a planning meeting held at Wyvern House, in Winsford, on Tuesday last week.

Clr Norman Harris stated that the application was moved for approval on the grounds that the proposed site has a 'hard surface' - proving it to be a brownfield site.

Cash from the development is expected to pave the way for improvements at Mid Cheshire College, including a new resource centre and classrooms.

But the decision goes against the stance of the Local Plan government inspector who stated that, although the site has future development potential, it should remain as open countryside until other housing sites have been considered.

Speaking about the next step in the process Richard Ellison, Head of Planning said: "As the proposal is down for refusal and the official recommendation is different, the matter will require the consideration of the full council and may need to be considered by the Secretary of State."

The final decision rests with the borough council which has called a meeting on April 26 to consider the matter.