Ruling due on controversial 300 homes plan
A MAJOR planning application for 300 new homes in Macclesfield will be ruled on this week by Cheshire East Council.
The controversial proposals are for the former King’s School site on Fence Avenue from developers at Barratt and David Wilson Homes North West and Homes England.
Outline permission for up to 300 homes was secured in 2017 and now this application, which goes before the council’s strategic planning committee, seeks to agree specific details.
The application has attracted objections from nearby residents.
Among a large amount of concerns are increased traffic, noise, loss of privacy, poor layout, pressure on schools from additional families and parking.
The plans are for 300 houses and flats - including 27 apartments in Fence house and an overall total of 90 affordable units in the scheme.
Four new apartment blocks would also be built.
According to plans there would be seven five-bed homes, 101 four-bed, 108 three-bed, 76 two-bed and eight one-bed.
Ahead of the meeting, which takes place on Wednesday, July 29, planning officers have recommended the application be approved.
A report for the committee says: “The design result is considered to be of a very high quality, providing a good mix of dwelling types, tenures and sizes.
“The development provides 30 per cent affordable housing provision which goes over and above the 10 per cent secured as part of the outline application.
“The application will provide much needed housing in a very sustainable location, with good connectivity to the town of Macclesfield by a variety of modes.”
The King’s School vacated the site at the end of the academic year as part of a move to a new £60m campus.
An application to build homes for elderly people at the school’s former Coare Street site has already been approved.