Residents win fight to stop homes plan
RESIDENTS are celebrating after winning a five-year battle to prevent homes being built on green belt land.
At a Cheshire East Council planning committee proposals for the 10 houses on land off Dark Lane, Gawsworth, were refused.
The application, from the council’s arms-length company Engine of the North, had been recommended for approval by planning officers.
But it had prompted huge objections from residents, who say the plans were first floated five years ago, as well as MP David Rutley, Gawsworth Parish Council and Save Gawsworth Green Belt group.
Their complaints included highway safety - both on the busy A536 nearby and on narrow
Dark Lane itself - loss of green belt and visual impact.
Linda Miller, one of around 70 people to sign a petition in opposition, said: “I am delighted that the committee refused the application and I thank them for their skill and objectivity.
“This was an ill conceived and widely unpopular proposal right from the start (five years ago) and we are relieved that it will not go ahead. “I am very grateful to Gawsworth Parish Council members for the outstanding support, professionalism and tenacity they have all shown in dealing with this matter. “I would also like to thank David Rutley for his support.
“He has stayed true to his election pledge - protection of the green belt from inappropriate development.”
The planning application was not submitted until 2018 and suffered delays in being heard before a committee - being put on, and then taken off, meeting agendas twice.
Council officers had said in a report put before the committee that concerns raised over the development had been addressed or could be with planning conditions.
They said a pedestrian crossing would help highway safety issues and measures such as landscaping would deal with any negative visual impact.
It also stated the high proportion of proposed homes that would have been affordable housing granted ‘special circumstances’ to allow green belt development.
But members of the northern planning committee, which met at Macclesfield Town Hall, voted to reject the planning application.