Wilmslow Town Council has issued their response to Cheshire East Council's latest consultation document.
The draft Development Strategy, which sets out the overall number of homes and jobs that will be needed over the next 20 years, differs from the recommendations in the Wilmslow Town Strategy which was re-written by Wilmslow Town Council and published in November 2012.
The latest consultation document proposes that 225 houses are built off Adlington Road, 75 homes are built behind Royal London and the green space opposite Royal London is taken out of the green belt and categorised as safeguarded land for future development. In addition the document proposes the use of land behind Royal London for employment use.
The main differences between the CEC document and the Wilmslow Town Strategy, which came out of the Wilmslow Vision consultation, are the proposal to develop the Adlington Road site from 2015 (the Town Strategy suggested this site should not be used for housing before 2025), the use of green belt land behind Royal London for homes and employment (the Town Strategy suggested employment use only) and the safeguarding for development of Fulshaw Fields, opposite Royal London, which the Town Strategy indicated should be retained as part of the green belt.
Below is a copy of Wilmslow Town Council's response to the draft Development Strategy.
Wilmslow Town Council very recently published the 'Wilmslow Town Strategy' to highlight its views relating to housing and employment development in Wilmslow over the period of the Cheshire East Local Plan.
The Town Council is delighted that Cheshire East Council has accepted the vast majority of the arguments put forward by the Wilmslow Town Strategy Document, in particular that the total number of houses be set at 400, down from the figure of 1500 identified at the Town Strategy phase of the Local Plan process.
The Town Council listened closely to the views of local residents in drawing its conclusions as to the appropriate level and location of development over the next 20 year period in Wilmslow, whilst taking a pragmatic view as to what was feasible.
The Town is surrounded by Green Belt land which is a vital component in influencing the nature of Wilmslow and in making it an aspirational town, important to the economy of Cheshire East.
The Town Council notes that there will be an impact on Wilmslow, and of course on Handforth, of the new 2300 dwellings settlement east of the A34. Whilst our focus is on Wilmslow, we do not believe that Handforth should have any more than the 2300 dwellings in total because of the potential negative impact on Wilmslow in relation to traffic and schools.
The Town Council is highly supportive of Wilmslow residents who have been active in their protection of Green Belt land. The Town Council believes that the vast majority of the 400 houses have either already been built, been granted planning permission or can be accommodated on Brownfield sites. All Brownfield sites should be investigated and given priority over both Green Belt and Green Space land and the nature of the development should be influenced by the local plan. The Local Plan should specify that the use of land in and around the town centre should be utilised for smaller housing units. This should to add vitality to the town centre whilst tackling issues of insufficient starter home accommodation and insufficient one and two bedroom properties. The Town Council feel that adopting this approach will both help satisfy the need for housing numbers whilst addressing an imbalance in housing stock.
The Town Council would highlight three additional concerns,
Whilst the Town Council accepts that the land currently safeguarded for development along Adlington Road is vulnerable for development, it believes that Brownfield development should be prioritised during the period of the Local Plan. We would repeat the view expressed in the Wilmslow Town Strategy, that the Adlington Road site development be phased to the period after 2025. In addition the Town Council is mindful of the nature of the housing stock in the immediate vicinity and would recommend that the dwelling density be adjusted to approximately 25 dwellings per hectare, this could partly be achieved by recognising the proximity of existing facilities rather than building these on site. The number of houses proposed will also have an impact on local schools, not least on Wilmslow's Primary Schools which are currently at capacity, this matter requires addressing prior to any development progressing.
The Town Council believes that the provision of Brownfield sites and the site on Adlington Road would more than meet the proposed target of 400 homes in Wilmslow and feel that the proposed mixed site to the rear (east side) of Royal London is an unnecessary use of Green Belt for housing development. The Town Council continues to support land on this site being allocated as employment land and to allow for an extension of the Wilmslow High School Playing Fields.
The Town Council vehemently objects to the proposal to reclassify the land opposite Royal London (Alderley Road) as 'Safeguarded Land for future development'. The Town Council through its consultation process in developing the Wilmslow Town Strategy, identified significant support for maintaining this land as Green Belt in appreciation of its visual appearance in separating the town of Wilmslow from that of Alderley Edge. The Town Council feel that this land should be retained as Green Belt.
The Town Council finally wish to thank Cheshire East Council's Strategic Planning Officers and in particular Council Leader, Cllr Jones for making the time to meet on numerous occasions with the Town Council Strategic Planning Panel and for listening to the concerns of Wilmslow residents.
Responses to the proposals should be made either on line at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/localplan, via email to [email protected] or by letter to: Spatial Planning, Cheshire East Council, Westfields, Sandbach, CW11 1HZ.
All responses must be received by 26th February.
Photo: Fulshaw Fields which the draft Development Strategy proposes should be taken out of the green belt safeguarded for future development.
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What does our Town Council have against green belt that they want to see it swallowed up unnecessarily?