Call for D-day delay on green belt homes bids
ADECISION will be made on two of the most controversial planning applications in recent memory – but campaigners say it should be put off.
Developer Bellway Homes wants permission to build 134 houses on one greenbelt site and 23 on another, with both locations between Chelford Road and Whirley Road, in Macclesfield.
This is part of proposals for around 400 homes in the area, with a third site nearby subject to a joint application by Jones Homes and Redrow to make up the rest.
All have been approved in principle and have outline permission, with the two applications before the council’s strategic planning board today (January 27) to agree specific details.
But this second application – called reserved matters – has yet to be submitted for the Jones HomesRedrow development.
There is huge local opposition against these plans and campaigners say together they will have a massive effect on the area – so should all be considered together.
Councillor Richard Slater, from Save Macclesfield Greenbelt and Henbury Parish Council, said: “When these applications came for outline permission great steps were taken to ensure the sites were heard at the same meeting on account of the large amount of resources and infrastructure both sites will share, and their impact.
“The chair of the strategic planning board stated that when these sites return for reserved matters, they should return together for that very reason.”
An additional application was submitted late last year from Bellway asking to be released from a condition imposed as part of outline planning permission.
This condition is that the developers involved must turn Broken Cross roundabout into a traffic light junction to deal with additional traffic caused by the new homes.
Campaigners say this – as yet undecided – application should also be considered at the same time.
Objections to the new homes include increased air pollution from extra cars, the sites being prone to flooding, the loss of greenbelt and also pressure on amenities such as schools from an influx of residents.
Cheshire East Council planning officers say these concerns can be overcome with conditions or mitigation measures and affordable housing would be provided.
Both applications have been recommended for approval.
David Malcolm, head of planning at the council, said to campaigners in a letter: “The two applications on the agenda have been the subject of much discussion and a number of amendments since they were first submitted in 2019.
”They are now however ready to be presented to committee. It would be unreasonable for the council to delay the determination of the applications on the grounds of considering the other applications.
”Particularly as the main application is reserved matters so we are not looking at the principle of development.
“Members of the strategic planning board can clearly reach their own judgements based upon the information before them.”