We are out of breath when all 263 houses in our development area are demolished after a planning error

Because of an apparently simple planning error, an entire new housing estate is threatened with demolition.

All 263 homes on the Coppenhall Place development in Crewe, Cheshire could face demolition because they were built on potentially contaminated land.

2

2

Local residents fear their properties could become worthless and that bulldozers will be brought in.

Tamzin Caiger, 35, who lives on the property with her wife Rachel, 36, and their eight-year-old son MailOnline: “It’s really annoying.

“I feel like we don’t really know what’s going on.”

Auto finance firm manager David Andrews, 50, who lives with his partner Laura Curtis, 37, added: “If it’s not resolved and the houses have to be demolished, what happens to us?”

The property was built on a former site of a Bombardier train factory where residues of asbestos, lead, cyanide and arsenic were found.

The developers insist the correct checks have been carried out and the council says there is no risk to human health, but locals are furious.

One pensioner said: “We fear that this will devalue our property.

“It could be worthless if not discarded.”

Countryside Partnerships received the green light in December 2018 to build 239 three- and four-bedroom homes and 24 apartments on the 17-acre brownfield site.

However, delays caused by Covid meant that construction was not completed within the required three years, requiring bosses to re-apply for a permit – although most of the houses had already been sold.

The local authority later questioned how thorough the controls on the land were before and during the project.

Countryside Partnerships and its advisors have insisted that proper assessments were carried out.

A spokesman said: “Aware of the outstanding planning conditions, we have consulted and worked with both council officials and the Environmental Protection Department to address them and submitted a retrospective planning application that was recommended for approval.

“Our priority is to solve this problem for our residents and customers.

“We note the planning committee’s comments and will be working with all necessary bodies to obtain full planning approval for this site as soon as possible.”

Cheshire East Council declined to comment.