A SOCIAL housing scheme costing £6m has been approved.
The plans for 65 affordable homes, at Ashton Lane, Frodsham, on the site of the former St Luke's Roman Catholic Primary School, were passed on Tuesday.
The deferred decision came at a Cheshire West and Chester planning board in County Hall after councillors took a closer look for themselves at the development.
The scheme includes low-rise two and three-storey buildings with a mix of apartments and two, three and four-bedroom houses.
A three-storey block of flats will be demolished to enable access from Ashton Drive.
The move to visit the former school site came after representations to the board by neighbour Kevin Cartwright of Ashton Close would argued a three-storey block would be close to his garden and he would be overlooked.
"We do not see why the apartments have to be so close," he told councillors.
Mr Cartwright insisted the development would reduce the value of nearby properties and the three-storey blocks would be detrimental to visual amenity.
No objections were raised by Frodsham Town Council.
Councillors heard the development was 'a good compromise' between the need to build a reasonable number of homes and the effect on the character of the area.
Agent David Smith for the housing trust says the design is 'high quality' and will not affect the neighbourhood.
The layout 'meets or in most cases more than meets the required separation distances' according to borough planners although they accept that for residents in Ashton Drive the distances from proposed three storey apartments are 'tighter'.
Deputy chairman Cllr Ralph Oultram moved permission and this was agreed by the board.