RESIDENTS have lost their battle to stop Dane Housing building 24 houses, flats and a special needs unit near their homes.

Some 97 people from the Canal Street and Lowe Street area of Congleton signed petitions opposing the scheme.

They claimed the single bedroom flats earmarked as part of the development would become a "focal point for civil disorder," which would ruin their quality of life.

Many of the residents were also worried about the impact of traffic to the new housing development on already congested roads in the area, in particular New Street and Canal Street.

One resident claimed the housing plans were not sympathetic to the ecology and geography of the site, with Dane Housing trying to pack in as many homes as possible.

Dane Housing won permission from borough councillors to build seven two-bed and 10 three-bed houses on land between Lowe Avenue and Canal Street.

The scheme also includes six one-bed flats and a six-bed special needs home, with access from Lowe Avenue.

Borough planning chief Geoff Allen said he was satisfied the amount of traffic generated by the housing development could be safely catered for, and the scheme would make a positive contribution to the character of the area.

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