Cheshire East Council has confirmed that a restrictive covenant, which some Fulshaw Park residents believe prevents development from taking place on the field west of Alderley Road, will have no impact on the planning application process.
Royal London submitted two planning applications in November 2017 for new homes on its Alderley Road site - which is included in the Cheshire East Local Plan as a strategic site for employment use, a hotel and residential development.
The first application is for 120 homes on the northern part of the campus site and the second is for up to 60 homes on land owned by Royal London to the west of Alderley Road. The field was removed from the Green Belt after its inclusion in the Local Plan as a strategic site for up to 75 dwellings.
About 15 homeowners, whose properties back onto the field, believe any development of that land would be illegal because there is a restrictive covenant pertaining to their properties that does not permit any developments on the field.
They have taken legal advice regarding the covenant, which was put in place in the 1860s, from a specialist solicitor and we understand their first impression was that they have a good case.
However, according to Cheshire East Council it will have no impact on their consideration of the Royal London planning application.
Councillor Ainsley Arnold, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for housing, planning and regeneration, said: "A number of residents have raised the issue of a possible restrictive covenant on the land relating to properties backing on to Royal London's premises, west of Alderley Road, Wilmslow.
"However, this is not something that can be considered as part of the assessment of the planning application. If planning permission is granted it would be for the developer to address this matter through any associated or necessary legal process."
A spokesperson for Royal London said "Royal London has received several enquiries about restrictive covenants from owners of properties close to its land west of Alderley Road in Wilmslow. Royal London is preparing replies to every party, which will be sent soon."
Comments
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Who could’ve predicted that?!
What RoW is asking is that the Council acts responsibly in the light of the law pertaining to covenants, that it postpones the forthcoming planing debate UNTIL such time as the legal result is known on the validity/strength of the restrictive covenants.
Rather than waste stretched resources, we suggest the council bides it time to await the legal process.
Should the SPB vote in favour of Royal London, the company will be unable to proceed with its plans until the legal aspect is resolved. Should it choose to push ahead in total disregard of the covenants, it will be laying itself open to monumental legal actions costing it millions.
But then, to push ahead is exactly how both these entities have behaved towards the local community, total disregard, totally uncaring, their g'd being solely money, local disquiet being of no concern to these entities.
The council has a duty to abide by the laws from which it acquires its statutory authority to act.
In relation to "Planning', the law is quite clear that Restrictive Covenants have no effect on the planning process. Therefore in my opinion on this issue the Council is acting responsibly.
However, the council could be found to be at fault for not checking if there were any legal reasons why the Royal London land could not be developed in the first place.
Did Royal London lead CEC up the garden path? Will there be a a gaping hole in the CEC Local Plan Strategy if the Restrictive Covenant can be, and is enforced? What will CEC need to do for that gap to be filled? And how will it do it? ...................
As to Royal London "replies sent soon" - that was in the article dated 31st Jan. Has anyone received a reply yet?