Housing development would set "catastrophic precedent"

welton

Over 100 people turned out on Saturday, 9th August, to demonstrate against plans for a new housing development on green belt land separating Wilmslow and Alderley Edge.

Residents are objecting to an outline planning application from Tesni Homes to develop 81 homes on a site off Welton Drive which has not been allocated for development in the Local Plan.

Local resident Hugh Burden said "If this planning application is successful it will set a catastrophic precedent meaning no green belt will be safe in Cheshire East and beyond.

"This could spell the start of speculative planning applications all over the borough for protected green belt land."

Local residents have been building a portfolio of objections to the proposed Welton Oaks development of 57 market homes and 24 affordable homes on the 10.4 acre site, which will be accessed off an extension to Welton Drive.

Hugh added "Leaving aside the inadequate access, pressure on local services and widespread local opposition to green belt development; the National Planning Policy Framework and National Planning Policy Guidance could not be clearer on this matter placing the onus squarely on the applicant to demonstrate "very special circumstances" that firmly outweigh the harm their proposal would demonstrably cause. They have not proven this. This application has the potential to make a mockery of the Wilmslow Vision, the Local Plan and by default Cheshire East Council.

He continued "Stockton Farm has been designated an important green belt buffer between Wilmslow and Alderley Edge and the applicant has not demonstrated special circumstances which could lead to the release of any protected green belt land. The local plan clearly sets out how Cheshire East will fulfill its housing needs over the next 25 years, there is no need to further develop precious and protected green belt land."

John Beardsell, Development Manager at Tesni Homes, said "In order for Wilmslow to flourish as a dynamic and sustainable town over the next Local Plan period the Council acknowledges that Green Belt boundaries need to be reviewed. It has proposed Green Belt sites around Wilmslow and Handforth and in the Core Strategy and has stated 'to achieve sustainable development over a period of several decades, some alterations to the detailed Green Belt boundaries around settlements in both the north and south of the Borough are necessary through this Core Strategy'.

"The Welton Oaks site is very well contained by existing housing and woodland and so its release will have minimal impact.

The site is very well screened and only forms a very small part of the barrier between Wilmslow and Alderley Edge. Its release from the Green Belt will not therefore make any significant contribution to the coalescence of settlements. For these reasons, we maintain that it is a preferable option when compared against the other Green Belt releases proposed around Wilmslow and Handforth by the Council."

He continued "In the original draft Town Strategy for Wilmslow the Council proposed 1500 new homes; this was subsequently reduced to 400 with the emphasis being shifted to new development in Handforth. We believe that the growth of Wilmslow, including affordable homes for local people, should be accounted for in Wilmslow rather than in Handforth as the two towns have their own distinct identities. We also believe the Council's proposals for the Handforth Growth Village are deeply flawed.

"We believe the inherent attributes of containment and screening make this site a preferable option when compared against the other Green Belt sites proposed for release by the Council. Our planning application demonstrates that Welton Oaks is a more sustainable, more deliverable and lower impact option than any other Green Belt site proposed in the area by the Council."

Cllr Rod Menlove commented "I'm totally opposed to this application for this land that is green belt and part of the open area separating Wilmslow and Alderley Edge.

"When the developers were suggesting this last November I was assured by CE Planning that it would fail the green belt test. I will enquire as to what, if anything has changed and am already in contact with local residents."

Cllr Menlove added "The application is scheduled currently to be considered by Strategic Planning on 17 September. Without doubt many residents will wish to comment and I urge them to do so before the cut-off date of 28 August."

The outline planning application can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website by searching for reference 14/3338M.

The last date for submitting comments is 28th August and a decision is expected by 9th October.

Tags:
Welton Drive, Welton Oaks
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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Gary Barton
Wednesday 13th August 2014 at 4:17 pm
As a Wilmslow resident and a local Councillor I am totally opposed to this application and urge as many residents as possible to register their objection on Cheshire East's planning website.
Pete Taylor
Wednesday 13th August 2014 at 4:29 pm
Weasel words from Tesni Homes; they are in it to make money- end of...
Jane Mitchell
Wednesday 13th August 2014 at 8:00 pm
This development must not succeed! Everyone in Wilmslow must get behind the objection of developing the GREENBELT. If they manage to get one site it will spur them to try again and again and before you know it there won't be an inch of green left in Wilmslow. So please get behind the objection 100% and help stop their greed.
Nick Fitzgerald
Wednesday 13th August 2014 at 8:55 pm
Have to agree with Pete , it's not about the so called development of wilmslow ( which seems pretty well developed already ) it is all about making money !
John Hanna
Wednesday 13th August 2014 at 9:40 pm
Alderley Edge Golf Club, which adjoins this proposed, has not be notified. Perhaps it is because it is partly in Alderley Edge. That is how close it is to Alderley Edge, whose boundary runs through the golf course. If this proposal goes through, then the green belt policy is not worth the paper it is written on. It will have been a waste of time and money. Developers should look to providing housing in town centres, and help their regeneration.
Desmond Williams
Tuesday 19th August 2014 at 1:37 pm
Yet another example of speculative development.The changes to the planning legislation brought in by the Government has been in effect a developers charter hence across the UK this type of case can be replicated many times.Take a look at the CPRE site to assess the scale of what is in the pipeline.
Ryan Dance
Wednesday 20th August 2014 at 3:12 pm
We need new houses and it's about time we stopped procrastinating and actually got on with it! Developers build where demand exists - it's actually a simple model referred to as "demand and supply".

For those of us who live in these idyllic green locations where property prices are well above the national average, why wouldn't you want to share for the next generation? perhaps its the fear of change? failing house prices? snobbery? Not in my back yard springs to mind.
Jon Williams
Wednesday 20th August 2014 at 3:59 pm
Ryan - We need low cost houses, and you won't find any on this new estate !
Ryan Dance
Thursday 21st August 2014 at 7:50 pm
Terry - your comments are correct, but very one dimensional. Your discription "low cost" made me chuckle. Define low cost please? I think you'll find the country needs affordable housing at every level of the socioeconomic group. Did you buy a "low cost" home once upon a time? Did you then buy a better, more expensive home? Most people climb the so called property ladder. To continue this paradox we need new housing supply across all spectrums. Unfortunately for the (NIMBYS) this means new housing across affluent cosy little green villages. I live in a nice little area too, change is hard but one you should indeed embrace.
Stuart Redgard
Tuesday 26th August 2014 at 10:47 pm
Ryan - Your statement "Developers build where demand exists" made me chuckle.

My experience of working as a professional in the Design & Construction industry is that Developers build where they can maximise their return on investment.
Ryan Dance
Wednesday 27th August 2014 at 8:48 am
Stuart - You are correct. The pursuit of profit maximisation drives all good commercial businesses. It's what drives most economies and most people unless you are unfortunate enough to live under the cloud of communism.

The point is however - we have a housing shortage hence the ridiculous cost of housing across the UK in proprtion to wages, particularly exaggerated in small pockets...Cheshire being one of them. Demand drives up prices due to lack of supply. It really is a basic economic principle that needs to be addressed in all areas.