PLANS to build 27 homes on farmland bordering the M62 have been approved by councillors.

The outline planning application for the land south of the M62 in Houghton Green, on Mill Lane, came before the development management committee at its meeting on Wednesday.

The development will comprise 15 three-storey townhouses and 12 two-storey semi-detached houses.

But concerns over the plans were raised during the meeting.

Cllr Bob Barr (LD – Lymm North and Thelwall) said the committee had a ‘series of at least four marginal judgements’.

He added: “So, as I understand it, it just about passes the test for sound. It just about passes the test for air quality, just about passes the test for accessibility and for sustainability.

“It is the policy of this council to promote good quality sustainable development.

“It strikes me that a development which has been presented to us which is so close to the margin on so many issues should not go through, simply because the cumulative doubt about its sustainability and about its appropriateness adds up to a case for refusal.”

Cllr Barr also said he thinks it is an ‘unacceptable’ development for Warrington.

Former councillor and committee member Geoff Settle, Cllr John Kerr-Brown and two residents spoke against the development, giving evidence about health and safety, as well as the physical and mental wellbeing of people who would live at the site only metres from the M62 and about air quality.

A total of 30 objections were submitted by residents on grounds including the site not being a sustainable location, the traffic impact on Mill Lane and a loss of wildlife and ecosystems.

A motion to refuse the application did not get enough support. It was put forward on the grounds of unacceptable adverse impacts on residential amenity as a result of noise and air pollution, which would result in a failure to contribute to a high-quality built environment.

The application was subsequently approved subject to conditions, as recommended, following another vote.