Noticeboard

●● A SOCIAL landlord is proposing to build seven new homes on Masons Lane.

Peaks and Plains Housing Trust is looking for planning permission to demolish a house and garages on the site of number 21, and erect the detached and semi-detached properties.

The plans include on-site car parking spaces. Existing access into the site is to be retained. However, the scheme has been criticised by Macclesfield Civic Society.

In a comment on the plans, Keith Smith from the heritage group said: “Whilst welcoming further provision of affordable housing by a registered social landlord, the society notes the very constrained nature of this site and the limited width of the means of access.

“Backland developments of this type have to be handled very carefully if amenities and privacy for both existing and proposed residents are not compromised.”

These concerns are shared by neighbour Janet King, of Conway Crescent, who said: “The planned area for a seven house build is small if you take into account car parking spaces alone and access in and out of Masons Lane is very limited. This is why we’ve paid for a garage for the last 15 years. Also our main concern is that we will be over-looked.”

Macclesfield Town Council’s Planning Committees are set to discuss the plan on September 7 with a final decision by the end of the year.

Nigel Bennett, assistant director of Partnerships for Peaks and Plains, said: “Peaks & Plains Housing Trust are continuing to identify suitable sites for development. We have had positive pre-application discussions with Cheshire East’s planning department and if this application for Mason’s Lane is approved it will provide seven much needed affordable homes.’