Flooding fears over land for 157 homes T
HIS submerged field is earmarked for 157 homes but the development faces huge protests - including concerns about flood risk.
Save Macclesfield Green Belt group is against the proposals, at Chelford Road, near Broken Cross, and are calling for a public enquiry into how the land was designated for housing in the local plan.
Members say it is unsuitable for housing because of poor drainage and fellow opponents Henbury Parish Council has even commissioned a flood risk assessment from experts Weetwood.
And they claim a photograph taken by drone on March 1 showing parts of the field flooded backs their claim.
It has highlighted a number of concerns that need addressing and now campaigners say the picture of flooded land shows why houses should not be built there.
The site is one of three off Chelford Road earmarked for a total of around 400 homes.
Richard Slater, from the parish council and Save Macclesfield Greenbelt, said: “That section of the flooding is four to six feet deep where the proposed houses are.
“This is exactly what we have been talking about, we need to have these outline applications reversed now. It’s getting silly and will wreck people’s lives.
“The council needs to have a public enquiry as to ascertain why they were included in the local plan. The ground conditions are wrong, it has been continuously flooded for weeks.” Outline planning permission has been given for 135 houses but developer Bellway Homes wants to increase the number by 22.
It is then anticipated there will be a reserved matters application in due course - to agree the details of the housing scheme.
Mr Slater added that the flooding problem could be made worse by plans to remove a large amount of peat from the site, which is called Cock Inn Fields, to flatten ground and make way for houses.
It has sponge-like qualities to absorb water and help drainage.
Save Macclesfield Green Belt has produced a flood map of the field, which shows large parts prone to the sort of water levels that would affect homes, gardens or both.
Other criticisms of the Chelford Road developments include air quality issues from increased traffic, loss of greenbelt and wildlife and pressure on local infrastructure such as schools.
East Cheshire Council and Bellway have both been asked for comment, with neither of them responding.
However, a Bellway spokesman has previously said: “Our design proposals are fully compliant with the current planning policy of the local authority.
“The scheme is not just about providing much needed housing, as in addition, Bellway are committed to undertake improvements to the local public realm and highway network, will enhance existing on-site ecological areas and will contribute over £1m towards sports, recreation, education, and healthcare facilities in Cheshire East.”
And the council has previously stated: “The sites are allocated within the Cheshire East Local Plan for housing and therefore the principle of their development is already established.
“The applications were subject to extensive public consultation and scrutiny.”