Plans to convert three vacant dwellings and outbuildings at Little Stanneylands on Stanneylands Road to create ten separate homes were approved by the Northern Planning Committee last week.
Planning permission has been granted for the conversion of a former farmstead, which includes the farmhouse, a converted barn, Rose Cottage and a swimming pool building. The farmhouse, barn and Rose Cottage are all grade II listed and were constructed in the 17th century, with some later additions.
The buildings will be converted into ten separate dwellings, along with an extension to the existing pool house and associated landscaping and car parking. The 9 current parking spaces will be increased to 22.
Member of the Northern Planning Committee, Councillor Dave Jefferay told wilmslow.co.uk "The main concerns raised during the meeting were impact on wildlife and the impact on the heritage assets. On the heritage assets, the application was supported by the council's Conservation officer who spoke on the matter and expressed her opinion that the works would be sympathetic to the original buildings but in a contemporary way. Furthermore, the building that will be most affected was mock tudor and built in the 1990s.
"On the impact on wildlife, the concern raised by speakers and objectors was that the wildlife corridor provided by the other adjacent developments would be blocked by this development. The committee took the view that there were no material planning grounds requiring the corridor to be incorporated into this development and therefore it did not provide grounds for refusal.
"The development will provide a biodiversity net gain but this will be not all be provided onsite and the developer will provide funds to provide environmental enhancement elsewhere, which is an approach unfortunately (in my opinion) permitted by local and national planning policies."
Wilmslow Town Council recommend refusal on the grounds that "the proposal and the associated parking provision is detrimental to the heritage setting and contrary to TH3 (Heritage Assets) of the Wilmslow Neighbourhood Plan. The proposed modern design for the pool house is a radical change in the historic setting and is considered to be contrary to Policy H2 (Residential Design) of the Wilmslow Neighbourhood Plan. The loss of green infrastructure within the site is contrary to Policy NE6 (Buildings in Gardens) of the Wilmslow Neighbourhood Plan".
Objections were also received from approximately 12 addresses following the initial consultation. Issues raised include: the dwellings would result in a lack of privacy and loss of light to existing dwellings, the new access would be dangerous, the site represents a small amount of natural environment left following the new David Wilson development, the ecology on the site should be protected, parking is insufficient and the development would negatively impact on the listed buildings.
Councillor Dave Jefferay added "Wilmslow Town Council reiterated their concerns expressed on the adjacent development, which was granted permission recently, that the two developments should have been considered together so that the holistic impact could be seen. Unfortunately, this is not something that the Planning Authority can demand."
The Planning Officer recommended the proposals for approval at the Northern Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday 15th February, on the following grounds:
- The proposed development would add to the stock of housing in the local area.
- The proposal provides a locally distinctive design, which also raises no significant highway safety, ecological or flood risk concerns, and does not raise any significant concerns in terms of the impact of the development upon the living conditions of neighbours.
- The application is considered to result in an acceptable impact on the listed buildings and their setting.
The plans can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website by searching for planning reference 22/0741M.
Planning permission was granted in November 2022 for 8 new dwellings to the north of the site.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
The application for the heritage site included an observation that harm was caused by the 174 Wilson homes. This was quickly withdrawn when the application for then 10 houses was posted. People can make what they want of this but I take the view it is far too easy for developers to achieve what they want by exploiting weaknesses in the planning system.
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The proposed development would add to the stock of housing in the local area.
Unquote. ? ? ? ?
Wilmslow Residents must be bitterly disappointed in our Independent Cllrs.
If you use Stanneylands road just have a look at the series of large boulders they have placed on the public verge opposite the entrance to their property.
These boulders placed on public land and without permission or approval are a danger to road users. The Council were notified about this first installation on 9th January 23 and their highways officer attended and confirmed to me the boulders were illegally placed. He spoke to the persons present on the site and told them they had to remove them.
This week 21 February the Little Stanneylands developers ( Annabelle Tugby Architects) have placed additional larger boulders on the public verge which forms part of the road. Anyone having cause to avoid a truck at this well known pinch point and mounting the kerb, which is common, will now collide with large boulders.
How is it that these developers can project their wishes on the public outside of their boundaries as and when they wish.
I have emailed Annabelle Tugby regarding this and guess what, no reply. Let’s see when a car collides with one of these boulders and a person is injured who will be responsible.
I am sure this as was the case with DWH project will be the first of many inconsiderate actions that will impact the local residents as this project progresses.
Perhaps your reporter could ask Annabelle Tugby Architects why these boulders have been placed on public land.
The fundamentals of the planning system regarding house building are:
1) The strategic Planning system is designed by the government to get houses built. Lots of them. All over the country.
2) The Planning system does not reflect public opinion. In fact, it actively ignores it (see point 1).
3) Councils usually have no choice but to approve new housing. If Cheshire East can find a reason to refuse permission, it usually does. However, it needs planning reasons to do this as public opinion is not a valid reason. Therefore, the council CANNOT reflect your views or wishes (see point 2).
4) Even if Cheshire East refuses the application, the developer has the right to appeal to the governments Planning Inspectorate. This is not an independent body. It is a government department tasked with finding a reason to allow the houses to be built (see point 1). Currently, the Planning Inspectorate allows 75% of the applications Cheshire East has refused.
Therefore, blaming the council, developers and architects misses the point. These are the groups that operate the system but they do not create the system.
Government makes all the rules but Planning is rarely a major issue for them. All the political leaders talk about more house building, not less. Therefore, they will continue to ensure the planning system ignores local views, so all the houses they promise get built.
So, until voters demand our national leaders (of whatever political leaning) change this policy, then we will continue to have more and more house building. Developers will always want to build as many of them in Wilmslow as they can because the demand and profits are high.
Which, means the council will continue to be powerless to stop them.
Cllr Mark Goldsmith
Residents of Wilmslow
Wilmslow West & Chorley