Cheshire East committee to face 400-home docket

Lacking a demonstrable five-year supply, officers recommend approval for projects of 100 homes-plus in Shavington, in Sandbach and on land next to Chelford station.

David Wilson Homes is behind the 103-home Chelford scheme, while land promoters Gladman and Richborough are seeking to establish outline consents in Sandbach and Shavington, close to Crewe, respectively.

Cheshire East’s strategic planning board meets on Wednesday 28 January to discuss the various proposals.

Chelford – full application for 103 homes, planning reference 25/1584/FUL

David Wilson Homes’ site is designated as safeguarded land in the local plan, meaning it can be considered for housing, especially as the council cannot currently demonstrate a five-year supply.

Most of the site is open countryside, but the officer report said that this is “balanced against the benefits of providing much-needed housing on the edge of one the borough’s local service centres”, added to the site’s designation, having now mostly been removed from Green Belt status.

Although there is still a small incursion into Green Belt land, the plan is for this area to accommodate a recreational footpath connection to an adjoining public right of way and adjoining homes on Dixon Drive.

ID Partnership and Asteer are working with the housebuilder on plans for the site, which is bound by the A537 Knutsford Road to the south and the Manchester-Crewe railway line to the west.

Affordable housing should amount to 30% of the site’s total, with 65% of the affordable homes being available through affordable social rent. The developer intends to deliver 20 social rent homes and 11 available through affordable purchase.

Chelford Parish Council has opposed the plan on a number of grounds, while around 60 other objections have been filed, including points raised by MP Esther McVey.

An education contribution of close to £800,000 is the main condition attached.

Shavington – outline plans for 120 homes, reference 25/2405/OUT

A new access off Crewe Road, where the site sits opposite Hickory’s Smokehouse, will be required to make this scheme happen.

Richborough is aiming to establish a consent for 14.3 acres of currently agricultural land, south of Gresty Road 1.5m south of Crewe town centre.

Although this is open countryside and officers admit there would be “an adverse impact on the appearance and character of the area” attention is drawn once again to the current lack of a five-year supply, a material concern and always a keenly-watched one in this local authority area.

Points in favour of giving permission, said officers, are that the construction of up to 120 homes will include 36 affordable dwellings. The application site is also adjacent to the settlement boundary of Crewe, Cheshire East’s largest town, and is thus accessible to local amenities. An education contribution of £700,000 is on the cards. Regardless, 53 individuals have objected.

The project team includes Asteer, Tyler Grange, PJS Geotechnical Engineers, Utility Consult, Stantec, Hub Transport Planning, Redmore Environmental, Magnitude Surveys, and E3P.

Sandbach – outline plans for 180 homes, reference 25/2406/OUT

Land west of Bradwall Road, opposite Sandbach Rugby Club, is the subject of Gladman Developments’ latest Cheshire foray. Again, this is open countryside, adjoining the settlement boundary.

Close to 300 objections have been lodged, including contact from Cycling UK and a local councillor.

Described in the officer report as pleasant but not exceptional, the point is made once again that Cheshire East’s lack of a five-year supply should be front of mind in considering the application.

The site is described as sustainably located, with easy access to public transport and Sandbach’s facilities. Officers summed up that “the proposal would provide social benefits in the form of new homes, including affordable homes. These benefits should be given substantial weight.”

An outline application for housing at the site failed in 2018, due to the loss of land described as “best and most versatile” agricultural land, a factor still acknowledged but now outweighed.

As with Richborough’s plan, further detail on the housing mix would be provided at reserved matters stage.