New homes planned for former depot site
PLANS have been revealed to build 88 new homes on a derelict haulage depot.
The scheme off Gunco Lane, Macclesfield, will transform the former R H Stevens Transport Ltd site which sits backs onto Macclesfield Canal.
Developer Bellway Homes has submitted plans for 48 three bed homes, 30 four-bed homes and 10 homes for social housing on the 2.5 hectare site. In the plans the developer said: “The vision for this site at Gunco Lane is to create a high quality sustainable residential neighbourhood which improves the local area and enhances existing green space assets.”
The brownfield site was home to the former haulage yard and has been cleared within the exception of a three-storey office block.
It is next to the Macclesfield Canal Conservation area adjacent to Green Belt.
In its planning design, which includes parking space for 176 cars, Bellway said it wants to create “an attractive neighbourhood not dominated by the car” because of the good transport links. The site has been identified by Cheshire East Council as a prime site for housing in the current version of the Local Plan and the plans are under consultation.
Brad Snelling, who stood to represent Macclesfield South Ward as a councillor in last year’s elections, said: “I think it’s a great idea. At the end of the day it’s wasteland, so to transform it into a housing estate is far better than just leaving it.
“The only negative effect I can see is that there will be an increase in traffic along Gunco Lane, but what would people prefer, a nice housing estate which is going to improve the area aes- thetically or a site?”
Residents living near the proposed development have also thrown their support behind it via the council’s planning portal.
Virginia McDermott, of Gunco Lane, said: “This development would make excellent use of a brownfield site instead of selling derelict off Green Belt land. Adequate parking needs to be provided for the residents of Gunco Lane and Byrons Lane so that Gunco Lane can have double yellow lines down both sides to ease traffic congestion.”
David Sutton, also of Gunco Lane said: “I have no objection to the development per se, but must stress the importance of looking at the big picture in terms of traffic management on Gunco lane in particular and Byrons Lane, Heapy Street and Black Road in general.
“All these roads are both busy and are misused, particularly from a parking aspect; with the addition of heavy transport usage on Heapy Street and Gunco Lane in particular, making transit almost impossible to effect safely.
“Any further development would make this intolerable unless the roads / traffic flow in this area is redeveloped.”