Housing worry for area with green belt land
CONCERNS have been raised that an area of Macclesfield that contains green belt land is being overdeveloped.
Macclesfield Town Council says this is becoming a problem around Chelford Road with the number of new houses being built.
Admin and governance manager Nicola Mellor highlighted the issue as part of consultation into plans for building six homes off Sandy Lane.
Cheshire East Council approved the plans, saying although the site was in the green belt it had previously been developed with dog kennels and a house.
So this meant the six homes would be ‘infill’ rather than a new development that would create additional harm.
The town council did not object to the specific application, from Michael and Catriona Marshall, but had reservations about the overall situation locally.
Ms Mellor said: “In view of developments on Chelford road, concerns of over-development in the area.”
Four residents did raise objections saying trees would be removed, access would create a hazard near a blind bend and there would be an impact on the green belt.
One said: “The proposed site is also on the edge of a nature conservation area, and the very nature of the work will inevitably damage this due to the nature of the building work and increased vehicle movements, in its construction and following completion.”
Among other housing developments in the Chelford Road area is around 130 homes recently built by Bellway part of plans for more than 400 overall.
The application also involves the demolition of buildings currently on the site.
This includes the Canine Club, which according to plans has seen a decrease in trade since Covid led to more people working from
home. A report with the application by consultants Emery Planning said: “The redevelopment of the site would resultant in a scheme which seeks to
consolidate the current spread of development and is less than what currently resides on site, particularly in terms of its footprint and volume.
“The proposal will therefore have neither an adverse impact upon the openness of the green belt nor any adverse impact upon the character of the
existing area.”
The report also said the scheme had ‘been carefully designed to ensure existing trees are retained where possible’. A report by council planners, which recommended approval, said highways and environmental protection officers had raised no objections.