King’s plan thumbs up
FULL permission has been granted for the redevelopment of a King’s School site – despite large objections from nearby residents.
Cheshire East Council has given the go-ahead for Bellway Homes to build 132 properties at Westminster Road, Macclesfield.
The developer’s planning application was a reserved matters application to decide the specific details, after an outline document establishing the principle of house building was previously approved.
But people living on nearby roads - such as Northgate Avenue, Bryn- ton Close and Westminster Road itself - told the council they have a range of concerns.
These include being overlooked by houses built on higher ground, increased traffic, the lack of a ‘green buffer’ of foliage screening their homes and a proposed new path providing an enticing escape route for opportunist criminals.
One objector also wrote to the council expressing concerns of health problems caused by the site’s former use as a Victorian tip.
The letter said: “Ground reports suggest various forms of contamination exist below the surface. The field is covered by 600cm of top soil which will be removed, exposing the contaminated waste of (sic) 100 years ago.”
The site was used for sports by King’s and will be redeveloped as part of its plans to move to one £60m location in Prestbury - instead of three - by 2020. Of the new homes, 13 will be affordable housing and they will vary between two and five bedrooms – with 52 detached houses, 68 semi-detached and 12 apartments.
A report by consultants Turley submitted with the application says: “The proposals are consistent with all relevant development plan policy, as well as other material considerations.
“All technical matters relating to the residential development of the site have been addressed.”
Macclesfield Town Council had echoed some of residents’ concerns, also highlighting the lack of affordable housing, overdevelopment of the site and the impact so many new homes would have on local services.
Planning officers from the council produced a report supporting the scheme.
It said: “The scale of the proposal would make efficient use of this brownfield site and pro- vide a residential scheme that would contribute to the housing needs of the area.
“It is considered that the extent to which the proposed would impact on neighbouring residential amenity is of an acceptable degree. The scheme is acceptable in all other respects and is found to be sustainable.”