Council has greenbelt homes plan ‘concerns’ KATHERINE BAINBRIDGE
TOWN hall bosses have raised a number of concerns about a charity’s plans to fund its refurbishment by selling greenbelt land for housing.
The planning application of excellence’ and the building of up to 325 new homes on land it owns in Heald Green – came before members of Cheadle Area Committee.
It has been recommended for approval by the council’s planning officers, and a final decision will be taken by the Planning and Highways Committee on January meeting councillors identified a number of issues that they have asked the planning committee to take into account, stating they ‘did not feel there was sufficient detail of the cost to persuade us that a £45m build was necessary’.
They also raised concerns about the impact of traffic on roads that are already busy; the public transport access to the site.
Cheadle councillor Iain Roberts said: “The Seashell Trust is a fantastic organisation and we’re proud to have it. But if they want to build over 300 homes on the option.
“They have not yet demonstrated to councillors that the £45m price tag for the new school - far more than for any other special school in the country - is really needed.”
Seashell Trust provides care and education for profoundly disabled children and young people from all over the country.
Charity bosses say the sale of the land is crucial to the redevelopment to replace its current, outdated campus, and they have ‘exhausted every other option’.
Chief executive and principal Mark Geraghty said: “We understand that using some of our land for housing to help pay for the scheme is a difficult decision, but we have exhausted every other option and we are in desperate need of a new building for our very special children.”
The plans have provoked backlash from the community, with groups such as the Heald Green and Handforth Action Group raising concerns about the scale of the housing development and its impact on the surrounding area.
Cheadle MP Mary Robinson has also voiced her opposition to the plans, saying she