Developers wanting to build 260 homes on Northwich Road have told Government they will “reconsider” the numbers if resident are not happy.
The disclosure came in a letter from the Treasury after officials took the unprecedented move to speak to Crown Estates about their change of numbers after concerns were raised by Tatton MP Esther McVey.
Pre-planning consultation figures were 175 but when official permission was sought from Cheshire East Council the numbers of homes proposed rose to 260.
In a letter to Ms McVey Treasury Secretary Andrew Jones said: “The Crown Estate (TCE) has a mandate to act independently of government but officials have met with them to discuss their proposals at my request. They are now reviewing the concerns you have raised and will discuss them with planning officers at Cheshire East Council.
“I understand that TCE are very happy to reconsider their proposals at Knutsford based on responses to consultations.”
Mr Jones said the developers will now be talking to Knutsford town council and other local councillors and he will discuss the situation further with Ms McVey.
Ms McVey said: “I look forward seeing what Crown Estates come back with and following on from this reply I will wait to see the number return to original number of 175. When I met with them last month I made it clear that myself and residents were not happy and they should resubmit plans for 175 homes. The letter from Andrew following the talks offers some reassurance but I will not be happy until it is official and the number of homes reduced.
“The infrastructure needed to sustain the site was based on the lower numbers and it sets a totally unacceptable precedent to developers who may think they can come forward and have a pre-consultation about one set of numbers and then submit something else.”
A campaign group opposing the increased number of houses because of lack of infrastructure, potential traffic chaos and major flooding fears has been set up and signed by more than 500 people.
Ms McVey previously submitted a formal objection to the Council over the plans. Service providers including GPs have already said their surgeries are struggling to cope with a growing population and schools are struggling too with Knutsford High School oversubscribed and the only available primary places on the other side of the town to the proposed development.