HUNDREDS of new houses will be built in the north of Crewe after outline planning permission was granted for a £50 million development at Coppenhall.

650 houses, a new pub, shops and associated infrastructure will be created on a patchwork of fields north of Remer Street, bordered by Groby and Stonely Roads.

The development, behind Monks Coppenhall Primary School, includes the demolition of the former Cross Keys public house.

Developers, Taylor Wimpey, point to 70 new jobs being created in new restaurants and services, as well as 100 jobs annually in construction.

But residents have registered their opposition to the development with Cheshire East planners, citing damage to wildlife, noise and light pollution, frequent flooding to Groby Road, increased traffic and already-overwhelmed local schools being reasons for the plan’s refusal.

A template letter signed by hundreds of people neighbouring the development says the development is designated as ‘open countryside’ and falls outside the development boundaries for the Local Plan.

“The roads and verges are already starting to subside and the grass verges are being destroyed by the current volume of traffic; they simply cannot cope with any further increase’.

Ian Smith, managing director for Taylor Wimpey North West, said the company were delivering ‘much-needed new housing in the area’.

The company has now submitted a detailed planning application for phase one of the development, comprising 215 one to five bedroom family homes, including ten bungalows and 33 affordable homes.

“We are committed to inward investment in Crewe by supporting local suppliers and tradesmen as well as making significant contributions to improve local infrastructure and public services as the development takes shape,” added Mr Smith.

The Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, recently ruled that Cheshire East Council didn’t have enough housing land set aside to meet a projected five-year demand under the National Planning Policy Framework.

Having granted the Coppenhall development, the authority is due to receive £1.5million from the Government’s New Homes Bonus Initiative, which it is intended to be re-invested back into the local community.

The first new homes will be ready by early 2015.