HARTFORD Civic Society is to complain to Cheshire West and Chester Council over its “apparent inept handling” of a planning application.

The society opposed an application for landscaping, layout and scale details for 238 houses on land at Grange Farm, Chester Road, Hartford.

Society secretary John Swaffield spoke at Thursday’s strategic planning committee meeting, which approved the Redrow Homes North West application despite opposition from the society and Hartford Parish Council.

In views of the local concerns Councillor Jill Houlbrook asked about referring the application back to the committee for further discussion.

She was told by development planning manager Fiona Hore that the deadline for determining the application was Friday, the day after the meeting, and if the scheme was referred back Redrow would “inevitably” seek costs against the council in the event of an appeal against non-determination.

Mr Swaffield told the Guardian the society would be lodging a formal complaint with the council to seek to establish the facts behind “this apparent inept handling of the application by the planning department.”

“Why was this application on reserved matters not brought before an earlier meeting of the committee, but left to the last possible moment when only one option was possible, without the council incurring punitive costs?” he asked.

“Why were committee members not told in advance, rather than waste committee time needlessly debating the issue?

“Why were the objectors not told in advance, rather than waste time preparing for the meeting and wasting time and fuel travelling to the meeting?”

The Redrow application which was approved represents phase two of a scheme which has outline planning permission.

A council spokesman said: “The reserved matters application was submitted to seek approval for the details of the development granted outline permission in 2012.

“The application was not brought to an earlier Strategic Planning Committee meeting as amendments were requested and it was necessary to re-consult with neighbours.

“As a result, the application was not determined within the usual 13-week period. However, the applicant agreed to an extended period for determination, the deadline for which was the day following the committee meeting.

“Acceptance of an extended period for determination has to be with the agreement of the applicant.

“The planning committee is a democratic forum, and members are at liberty to make any decision they consider appropriate based on planning policy and material considerations.”

Hartford Parish Council said the impact of the scheme on 28 Walnut Lane was unacceptable, and opposed plans for an emergency exit on Walnut Rise as it would encourage parking on Walnut Rise.

Mr Swaffield said no attempt had been made by Redrow to “achieve a sympathetic marriage” between the planned housing and the rear of 8 to 28 Walnut Lane.

“Another issue of great concern is the inappropriate siting of the emergency exit at the bottom of Walnut Lane,” he said.

“The phase two proposals amount to an act of corporate vandalism to a heritage-rich designated conservation area.”

Redrow technical director Paul Sinclair said the scheme would be of “the highest possible quality.”