A controversial planning application for a new residential development on land north of Stanneylands Road, behind Wilmslow Garden Centre, is scheduled to be determined next week.
David Wilson Homes is proposing to build approximately 174 homes on Green Belt land which is included in the Local Plan as a site suitable for up to 200 homes.
The scheme also includes a new roundabout onto Stanneylands Road, public open space, pedestrian/cycleway connection between Linneys Bridge and the River Dean and a new bridge crossing of the River Dean.
The accommodation includes eight 1 bedroom properties, nineteen with 2 bedrooms, thirty 3 bedroom properties and 112 properties with 4 bedrooms. The properties are made up of 24 apartments and 150 houses with each property having access to two off road parking spaces.
Cheshire East Council has received 815 letters objecting or commenting on the scheme.
Amongst the issues raised are: inadequate access into the site; increase in traffic and impact on highway safety; the proposed roundabout will not ease congestion; impact on drainage in the area; loss of trees; loss of Green Belt; over-development of the site and the footpath and cycle links should not cross local farmland.
Wilmslow Town Council's Planning Committee recommend refusal of this application on the grounds of inadequate access onto Stanneylands Road, stating that the primary access for the development should be directly from Manchester Road.
The Planning Officer is recommending that the Strategic Planning Committee approve the application at their meeting on Wednesday, 22nd November, subject to a Section 106 Agreement.
The report states "The applicant is providing financial contributions required in order to make the development acceptable and is providing the full amount of affordable housing on site which is essential in order to make developments sustainable in the future. It is considered that the proposals are environmental, socially and economically sustainable and accord with the development plan and the framework. The site is sustainably located within the town and the proposals represent an efficient use of the land.
"Cheshire East is currently able to demonstrate a 5 year supply of housing however this site is included within the 5 year supply and this proposal will make a valuable contribution in maintaining this position.
"The design and layout of the development are in accordance with the Cheshire East Design Guide and no issues have been identified in respect of overlooking or other amenity impacts.
"It has been demonstrated the development will not have a detrimental impact on the local highway network, the trees on and around the site, to local ecology. Although some matters must be dealt with by way of conditions at this stage.
"It is considered that the proposal represents sustainable development and accords with the development plan policies outlined in the report and national planning policy and guidance. Therefore for the reasons mentioned above the application is recommended for approval."
The Strategic Planning Committee meeting will take place at 10am on Wednesday, 22nd November at Macclesfield Town Hall.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
To believe that this development will have no impact on local highways is to believe a convenient lie.
We have to recognise that overly restrictive planning regulations have delivered us a crisis in housing supply and cost. It's time to accept that it's necessary to allow the countries towns and villages to expand somewhat.
Is it true that Wilmslow Cheshire East Councillors voted for the removal of the Green Belt? Is it ok to live in a continuous Heald Green/ Handforth/Wilmslow/ Airport?
Is this a housing policy driven by need or a financial market? Who is this housing for? What income brackets?
One big issue is of course the Pollution, and it appears from the emails below that the Leader of the Council Rachel Bailey & Ainsley Arnold were both aware of the manipulated pollution figure as early as 21st July 2017, but did not share this information with the rest of the Councillors voting to adopt The Local Plan on 27th July, the information was released on 28th July after the vote, so effectively the Local Plan vote could potentially be invalid.
Sent: 17 October 2017 10:53
To:
Subject: Full council meeting
Hi Julie
Thanks for taking my call, please find my question below.
Question
Which individuals at Cheshire East Council, including Executives, Officers and Councillors were involved in the formulation, planning and dissemination and delivery of the Cheshire East Council press release issued on Friday 28 July 2017 at around 16:00hrs relating to the manipulation of air pollution figures by Cheshire East Council. What date and time was the creation of the release first disgust and which individuals took the decision to release the information after the Local Plan adoption vote on 27 July 2017.
Many thanks
Richard Slater
Dear Mr Slater,
I refer to the question which you supplied to my colleague Julie North on 17th October, and respond as follows.
Firstly, I must make it clear that the alterations to the air quality data were undertaken by a yet unidentified individual (or individuals) who acted without the knowledge or instruction of the Council. The investigation carried out was to identify what figures had been altered so that they could be corrected, to identify who altered the data and, if possible, why.
The Council does not record the time and date that a draft press statement is first discussed, nor who contributes to its drafting. However, from our records it appears that an initial draft statement was prepared during the week ending the 21st July 2017. The draft was revised over the following week and a final draft was produced on the 27th July for approval by senior officers and members. The following individuals were involved in its drafting and/or approval:
Kath O’Dwyer – Acting Chief Executive
Sean Hannaby – Director of Planning & Sustainable Development
Fiona Reynolds - Director of Public Health
Natalie Robinson - Business Manager, Corporate Services
Michael Moore - Acting Corporate Manager, Communications and Media
Cllr. Rachel Bailey - Leader of the Council
Cllr. Ainsley Arnold – Portfolio Holder for Housing, Planning and Regeneration
The air quality statement was released as soon as it was possible to do so, factoring in a complex series of actions that needed to be undertaken including ensuring that the staff in the team had been appropriately briefed, HR processes had been commenced, key officers and members had been briefed and local MPs informed. As such, Friday 28th July was the earliest opportunity to do so following its approval on the afternoon of the 27th July.
Brian Reed | Head of Governance and Democratic Services
Cheshire East Council | 01270 686670 |
http://bit.ly/2vS90jI
No doubt the planning meeting will question this.
Whether you like it or not....a large chunk of the new housing stock is now occupied. Clearly demonstrating sufficient demand.
Are you kidding on the new commuter rail link? Where would this be built? Perhaps on the leisure centre site? In fact...where would you like all the new services built? Should we start building upwards to save the greenbelt? Cities in the Sky? I have definitely seen comments on here objecting to new develomements over 3 or 4 stories (I think)
Cheshire East do indeed need to hold the developers to account....CIL tax etc. The truth is....the more they burden the developers with red tape and increased costs..the higher the final sale price per unit built
I wish to correct a factual inaccuracy in your report.
David Wilson Homes ARE NOT proposing to build approximately 174 homes on Green Belt land. This piece of land was formally removed from the Green Belt by Cheshire East Council following a vote to adopt the Local Plan Strategy on 27th July 2017.
See your own article found at
http://bit.ly/2zC6W0H
After about 2 hours and 45 minutes of discussing this application a proposal of "Deferral of a decision to a later meeting” was proposed by Councillor Toni Fox and seconded by Councillor Steven Hogben. The reasons for deferral being the provision of more detailed information.
The proposal was passed by 6 votes to 5
For the proposal (6)
Councillor Toni Fox (Residents of Wilmslow)
Council Steven Hogben (Labour)
Councillor Barry Burkhill (Handforth Ratepayers)
Councillor Janet Jackson (Labour)
Councillor Mike Sewart (Conservative)
Councillor Sarah Pochin (Conservative)
Against the proposal (5)
Councillor Gill Merry (Conservative)
Councillor John Hammond (Conservative)
Councillor Lesley Smetham (Conservative)
Councillor Steven Edgar (Conservative)
Councillor Derek Hough (Liberal Democrats)