CHESHIRE East Council is requesting a judicial review after the Government overturned a planning decision on the basis that the council couldn’t demonstrate a five-year housing supply.

The borough authority refused the Rowland Homes planning application to develop 96 homes on land at Elworth Hall Farm, Sandbach, in February 2013.

But on April 11, a planning inspector upheld an appeal against the decision and said Cheshire East didn’t possess enough houses for future growth under Government targets.

A council spokesman said it had requested ‘top legal counsel’ as to whether the authority had a case to challenge the ‘controversial decision’ and has now decided to press ahead with the legal challenge.

In a statement, Cllr Jones said: “This was a very important planning decision, which was produced in a way which left many members of the public concerned.

“I am pleased to see that we will be asking a judge to review this decision – especially on the issue of our having a five-year supply of housing land.

“I have always promised the people of Sandbach, and of Cheshire East as a whole, that we will do everything we can to defend our greenbelt and green gap spaces – and this is no exception.

“We are committed to protect our countryside from unplanned, unwanted and unsustainable development.”