The Emerson Group has submitted an outline planning application to build a housing development on land to the south of Coppice Way in Handforth.
The outline application is for Jones Homes to build approximately 175 houses, including public open space, on a site to the west of the A34 which is currently an isolated farmland field.
The site, identified as 'Site A' in the recent Town Strategy Consultation, is surrounded by retail units to the north, a residential area to the west and the A34 to the east.
The housing mix is not specified at this outline stage but the intention is to provide a range of 2, 3, 4, and 5-bed houses with a predominant focus on 3 and 4 bed family housing which will mainly be two storey.
30% of the residential units will be affordable, these will be 2 and 3-bedroom properties which will be dispersed through the site in small clusters.
The residential development would be accessed by vehicles from a new arm onto the existing roundabout which serves Coppice Way and the Handforth Dean Retail Park.
The planning document states "The intention is for the proposed housing development to act as a sustainable extension to the village of Handforth. The new residents will use the existing facilities in Handforth village. This will enable these shops and services to be better supported by the increased catchment, rather than being challenged by any new facilities outside the existing centre."
The planning application can be viewed of the Cheshire East Council website by searching for planning reference 13/0735M.
The deadline for submitting comments is 18th April and a decision is expected to be made by the planning committee by 6th June.
Comments
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The application is opportunist and largely dependant upon the results of a public enquiry due to be held next month in respect of an application by Greystones for a care village on the land to the north of the area of this application. This application has been refused three times by Cheshire East Council over the last couple of years. If the public appeal by Greystones fails it is very likely this will also.
It is absurd to suggest that any potential home owners on this site would drive past the mega stores, literally on their doorstep, in favour of driving around the A34 and back into Handforth village to use local businesses. It is what it is, another money making scheme.
How much more infilling are Jones homes intending to do?
I object to this application.
This piece of land is identified as Safeguard for Future development in the 2004 edition of the Macclesfield Borough Council Local Plan.
As this document is still current and not yet superseded by a new "local Plan" it cannot be developed as we are still in the plan period.
Therefore any planning consent would be a breach of the current local plan.
As the Cheshire East Council has already breached planning laws in the "Lyme Green" episode any form on consent could be deemed as a further breach and demonstrate that the council officers and members are still continuing to ignore council procedures and planning laws.