Developers eye up Green Belt land in absence of Local Plan

Local residents are concerned that Green Belt land in Wilmslow East is under threat from developers who will take advantage of the fact Cheshire East does not yet have a Local Plan.

WCE Properties, who are acting on behalf of the landowner, are promoting land off Welton Drive for housing development and have recently commissioned a number of surveys of the site - with the aim of proving that it is a suitable and sustainable location for a development of up to 100 houses.

One local resident, who did not wish to be named, said "Local residents first became suspicious a couple of months ago when two women appeared to carry out an ecological survey of the adjacent area known as Butterfly Bank. A couple of days ago a firm of land surveyors called Angle Surveys from North Wales appeared to undertake a topographical survey of the fields and points of access at the bottom of Welton Drive and Stockton Road. We know that WCE Properties commissioned the topographical survey and presumably they were also behind the ecological survey."

He added "It would appear that WCE Properties is trying to take advantage of the present lack of a Local Plan, a tactic that property developers have used in other parts of Cheshire East, which has often worked."

This land at Welton Drive was included in the Wilmslow Vision consultation as a possible site for housing, but has not been put forward as a potential site within the Local Plan.

Cllr Rod Menlove commented "There is a potential planning matter in Wilmslow East with damaging implications. This one from WCE Properties, relating to land off Welton Drive, indicates intent for a major housing development.

"To my knowledge the current situation is that there have been no approaches to CE Planning, not even on a pre-app basis. I am in regular contact to be updated if this changes.

"The CEC Planning view I imagine would be against any development on the grounds that the land is in the Green Belt and not in the Local Plan nor among the 'non-preferred sites'. The councillors from CEC are against, as undoubtedly are Residents of Wilmslow, and such a development is against Wilmslow Town Council stated policy."

James Hennie, General Manager at WCE Properties, told wilmslow.co.uk "We do not own the land that you mention but we do have an agreement with the owners to promote the site for development. As you have observed, over the last year we have engaged various consultants to review the site with a view to demonstrating that it is a sustainable and viable location for housing development.

"We have been consulting with Cheshire East Council since 2011 as we believe that this site has the potential to deliver a housing development of the highest design quality and environmental credentials with significantly less impact than other sites being presented by the Council and other Developers in the area."

Mr Hennie added "We do not currently have a fixed timetable for submitting a planning application but we will consult with local residents prior to finalising our plans. This pre-application consultation will include details of how we intend to achieve the highest environmental standards for the development."

Cllr Menlove added "The Coppice Way appeal decision by the planning inspector does put us at a disadvantage compared with developers. However, that will not discourage us from fighting this every inch of the way.

"Since the site is in Wilmslow East, I am approaching this from a Ward perspective. I am available for any meeting arranged by local residents. It is probably best if there is a single coordination point on this matter and I leave to the local residents (if they agree) to decide who that may be."

WCE Properties hope to be able to provide some indicative proposals in the coming weeks, followed by a public consultation.

Additionally, according to a letter sent by Lambert Smith Hampton, Barratt Developments are hoping to build a development of "low density, high class villa style houses" along with two HQ offices on Green Belt land at the gateway to Alderley Edge.

Peter Skelton, on behalf of Lambert Smith Hampton, said "Although the site does not have approval or allocation for commercial use the Local Authority are strongly supportive to investment and new development which would secure long term value and employment."

Lambert Smith Hampton have been instructed by the landowner to seek expressions of interest from companies who may be interested in occupying the office buildings.

The land being proposed for development by Barratt is opposite the Merlin, however Cllr Keegan is also concerned about the land to the right of this, leading up to Brook Lane, which he feels is potentially under threat because "the absence of a Local Plan is encouraging developers to have a pop."

Cllr Keegan added "Alderley Edge Parish Council are planning to meet Wilmslow Town Council to discuss the threats we are under, to which we can add land behind Beech Road. Coming down the bypass from the Wilmslow High School roundabout, any development behind Beech Road would be on the edge of the bypass. So you can see that the absence of a Local Plan is not doing us any favours."

Tags:

Local Plan, Rod Menlove, WCE Properties, Welton Drive