UKIP councillor Brian Silvester has been accused of ‘double standards’ for campaigning against a housing development on Crewe’s Green Belt.

Clr Brian Silvester, Ukip leader for Willaston and Rope ward, is appealing for residents to reject Wainhomes’ appeal application to build 53 homes around Gresty Oaks in Crewe.

In 2012 Wainhomes had an application to build 80 homes off Rope Lane, which is on the Green Gap, rejected, but was later overturned on appeal.

Clr Silvester claims the latest development, dubbed phase two, will ‘virtually obliterate the Green Gap between Shavington and the A500’.

He said: “The precious Green Gaps around Crewe and Nantwich are under threat of being concreted over because of Cheshire East’s total failure to put an Adopted Local Plan in place.

“I hope the Planning Inspector will reject this appeal because it is unsustainable.”

However Peter Barlow, land and planning director for Wainhomes North West, claims the reasons for Clr Silvester’s opposition have nothing to do with the precious green space.

“Mr Silvester’s opposition to this proposal smacks of double standards, given he has been actively promoting his own adjacent land for residential development, which has a far greater impact within the Green Gap,” he said.

“We can only conclude that his objection to our scheme is self serving to gain favour for his own land.”

Clr Silvester has also claimed the development will pose a significant flood risk, given its proximity to Swill Brook.

Clr Silvester said: “No apparent regard has been taken of the fact that Swill Brook is a flood zone and that there is significant potential for flooding.

“Gresty Lane and gardens adjacent to the brook regularly flood now and this further development will only exasperate the flooding problems.”

However Mr Barlow dismissed Clr Silvester’s claims as ‘nonsense’.

“It is public record that a Flood Risk Assessment was provided for phase one and two of the development, which highlights the development will not have any adverse effect on the flood zone,” Mr Barlow said.

“This was never raised as a reason for refusal or objected to by the Environment Agency.”

The planning application appeal date is set to take place on June 9, 2015.