Homes planned for garden centre site
ANOTHER housing development in Henbury looks likely to go ahead in the face of protests – this time at a garden centre.
A planning application from Project Iris D, for Flora Garden Centre, on Chelford Road, has been recommended for approval by Cheshire East Council.
It seeks to build 14 homes as well as a new commercial unit for the business, two food stalls and communal seating for 48 customers.
Residents from seven existing addresses raised objections to the original plans, which have been redrawn with different access and to cover a smaller area.
This new version has prompted objections from two addresses with concerns including the scheme’s design, parking provision and traffic generation.
One said: “The green belt around Henbury should be preserved for all the reasons that green belts were created in the first place.
“We do not object to development of the permanent Flora buildings, the gift shop and tea rooms.
“But the proposed development would result in a huge increase in the volume of permanent buildings on the site and would have a much greater impact on the green belt than the existing buildings.”
Henbury Parish Council has also objected to the redevelopment also listing parking and traffic issues as well as questioning how deliveries would work.
The parish council was also among campaigners against the large developments off Chelford Road that would total around 400 houses.
These already have planning permission and work is well under way at the Bellway site.
Affordable housing is included at the garden centre site and commuted sums will be paid by Project Iris D towards education provision and public open space.
The homes would be three five bed, four fourbed, four three-bed and three one-bed.
A report by council planners has been produced ahead of a committee meeting at Macclesfield Town hall on Wednesday, September 14, when the application should be ruled on.
It says that the development ‘would not have a significant impact upon the openness of the greenbelt’.
And adds: “The commercial unit on site is deemed acceptable in this rural fringe location as the
commercial use is already established and the proposals simply seek to consolidate their existing operations.
“The development would be of a design that mimics a farmstead arrangement in this rural fringe location which works well.”