Families lose fight on homes

THREE new dwellings have been approved despite 23 households objecting to the scheme.

District councillors voted unanimously to approve the development on land at Cheddleton Park Avenue, Cheddleton.

The application by Moorlands Homes (Cheadle) Ltd was a resubmission of a planning application which was for eight dwellings on a larger site but including the current application site.

It was refused and subsequently dismissed on appeal. In a report to councillors, planning officer Jane Curley, said: “This application seeks to address the reasons for the dismissed appeal. Fundamentally the application site has been reduced in size. The number of dwellings has correspondingly been reduced from eight to three.

“The applicant has confirmed that there is no intention for spoil to be taken off site; it will be retained on site. He also confirms that the soakaways will be within the plots themselves, not off site.

“Access was not raised as a reason for refusal in the previous scheme of eight units. As in that application, access is to be taken from the end of Cheddleton Park Avenue.

The plans show an access of approximately 3.6 m in width leading through the site to the adjacent field with individual drives to the three properties taken from it.

All the plots have at least three parking spaces, a mix of garage and parking spaces. This is acceptable. “Many of the letters of representation express concern that Cheddleton Park Avenue and Basford Bridge Lane are not suitable to take more traffic. The Local Highway Authority has considered the plans and raises no objection to the application. They note that visibility at the junction with Basford Bridge Lane is good with no recorded injury accidents. They advise that Cheddleton Park Avenue serves over 100 dwellings and that an additional three dwellings will not have a severe effect on the highway.”

Households objecting to the application raised several issues including increased traffic, Cheddleton Park Avenue is not suitable; this land is unsuitable to build on; there are lots of houses for sale in Cheddleton; affordable housing is needed not large houses like this; the access to the site is poor, over a bridge and a narrow road; will lead to congestion; road narrows near the site so will be difficult for the emergency services; houses will be much higher than the end ones on Cheddleton Park Avenue; development will cause harm to the setting of Listed buildings and the Conservation Area; the layout is clearly designed to add more development in the future; development has already been refused on appeal; Reducing the number of houses to three does not address the issues.

The report said that Cheddleton Parish Council resolved to accept this planning application.

Despite the objections all 12 members of the planning committee voted to approve the application.