Stockport Council to object in 'the strongest possible terms' to Handforth Dean development

by Lisa Reeves

Wednesday 12^th July 2017

Wed 12^th Jul 2017

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council have announced that they intend to strongly object to the recently approved plans for a new shopping park at Handforth Dean.

Cheshire East Council's Strategic Planning Board approved two applications last month for around 25 retail units along with restaurants, cafes, drive-thus and parking to be built on Council owned land adjacent to the existing Marks and Spencer, Tesco and Next stores.

A third application from Alderley Edge based developer Consolidated Property Group (CPG) for an extension to the Next store was also approved.

Speaking at a meeting of Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council on Thursday, 29th June, Cllr Kate Butler, Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration, raised the issue of the A34 and the potential for increased and "very very worrying traffic congestion" in that area.

Cllr Kate Butler said "We are objecting in the strongest possible terms to the proposed development at Handforth Dean.

"We will be present at forthcoming enquiries and ensuring that we have the best possible case to represent Stockport, its residents and business. We'll continue to work with Cheshire East on all mitigation measures and all options for the future of the A34 corridor which is subject to a lot of work ongoing through the SEMMS refresh at the moment."

She added "I do think Cheshire East should pay for mitigation works but we also need to make sure we continue working with them and trying to find a way forward."

I contacted Cheshire East Council and Cllr Kate Butler regarding these applications, which the Strategic Planning Board approved in June, for confirmation regarding any forthcoming enquiries but am currently waiting for a response.

Tags:: CPG Development Projects, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council

Comments

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

Pete Taylor

Wednesday 12^th July 2017 at 9:58 pm

How can this be? I'm sure that I have read that CEC and Stockport Councils were working "as one" to co-ordinate all the implications of the thousands of new house builds and commercial developments along the (currently blocked) A34 "corridor".
Perhaps our CEC representatives could comment?

Howard Piltz

Thursday 13^th July 2017 at 9:29 am

At last somebody sees sense. More congestion so no sooner has all the current road-works finished there will have to be more to cope with the increased traffic levels - madness for CEC as usual. And who wants these shop? Stockport and Wilmslow will see more empty shops, and they call this 'planning'!!

Bob Bracegirdle

Thursday 13^th July 2017 at 9:59 am

And we are supposed to be encouraging public transport. So we build another huge centre to encourage thousands of more car journeys. I think the human race has gone mad.

Lynne Prescott

Thursday 13^th July 2017 at 10:23 am

At least one council seems to consider impact of uncontrolled growth on infrastructure! As we all know Cheshire East does not value this part of their county at all, I wonder if we should petition to join Stockport instead - we might get a better deal: it certainly seems as though we might acquire a few more intelligent councillors? (i.e. not mindlessly following the Tory agenda, but possibly... shock, horror!.. representing the wishes of the community that representing them)

Steven Kingsby

Thursday 13^th July 2017 at 10:38 am

Great news, how many more shops do we need around here? none.
Traffic is already really congested on the bypass and surrounding roads plus the much bigger Lidl isn't built yet and the thousands of new houses planned.
Enough is enough.

Julie Smith

Thursday 13^th July 2017 at 11:02 am

Bob Bracegirdle, how can you believe CeC are encouraging public transport when at the end of July there will be one bus serving Handforth every 2 hours Monday to Saturday and a railway station that only serves able bodied people with no luggage or buggies? Quite the opposite I would suggest!

Paul Hampton

Thursday 13^th July 2017 at 11:09 am

If traffic congestion in the area really is a genuine for concern for them, then why hasn't Stockport done anything to address the length of time it is taking to complete the junction improvement works on their sections of the A34 which have been dragging on forever, causing long tailbacks - whilst the majority of the engineering resources seem to be deployed elsewhere around the MARR route.

Jon Armstrong

Thursday 13^th July 2017 at 1:18 pm

I doubt Stockport could care less about the traffic congestion - it's far more likely they don't want increased competition for shopping centres in their own area.

Julie - I've seen people blame the council, Jones Homes and all kinds of people for the access issues at Handforth Station, but for reasons that escape me nobody ever points the finger at the railway companies who own and operate the station and who seem completely indifferent to these.