Cheshire East nods through 400 homes
With the council’s housing supply placing the committee ‘between a rock and a hard place’ in one member’s words, proposals from Gladman, Richborough and David Wilson Homes can progress.
All three projects heard by the public session during the council’s first strategic planning board meeting of 2026 were recommended for approval, with officer reports in each case making the point that with Cheshire East unable to currently demonstrate a five-year supply, refusal of anything but the most egregious of proposals would likely be futile.
That was the tenor of much of the proceedings, with one member withdrawing concerns over land promoter Richborough Estates’ Shavington proposal but urging officers to “fight with every fibre of their being” any future projects that might negatively impact the area.
On the Gladman proposal for Sandbach – like the Richborough plan, an outline scheme from a land promoter, so lacking the detail of a reserved matters application – concerns were raised over the impact of more housing on an already-pressured part of the highway network.
Committee chair Cllr Brian Puddicombe remarked in summary that “I appreciate the concerns of public speakers. This is a narrow road, and with the improvements that are scheduled we have to take assurances that they will make access to this site safe. With some reluctance I will support it.”
The schemes:
Chelford – full application for 103 homes, planning reference 25/1584/FUL
David Wilson Homes’ site is designated as safeguarded land in the local plan, with all but a small corner having been removed from the Green Belt. 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. Chelford Parish Council and around 60 objectors opposed.
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, the relative proximity to local services and transport were positive factors in the plan’s favour. 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 – “pleasant but not exceptional” in officers’ words – adjoining the settlement boundary. Close to 300 objections were lodged. 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.
This is where years of NIMBY Council and Councillors behaviour gets you. Take note Wirral or sort out a proper Local Plan asap please 🙁
By Observing
Hope your going to build more reservoirs have more doctor and dental surgeries and buildmore schools. Because we haven’t got enough of them to cater for everyone.
By Anonymous
All over there are new builds…..
By Neil
What is the current government plan to safeguard agricultural land for food production and where in these plans are the much needed social homes, for those for whom the ‘affordable’ housing is ‘unaffordable?
By J m Sloane
All be living in the city of England soon
By J brennan
Yet more building in Cheshire East, leading to constant temporary traffic lights on roads that are already jammed with the volume of traffic from previous building projects.
Services such as doctors, schools and hospitals already struggling to cope with the influx of people from previous building work.
Yet more decent agricultural land being lost and once houses are built on it, lost forever, just to make a few greedy people richer.
By Bobby B
Ok to build houses but only if they improve the infrastructure with new schools, community centres, pubs and churches . Just building houses with nothing else should not be allowed.
By Anonymous
Hey! Let’s concrete over ALL the green areas! What a great idea! NO!
There are too many of us and we don’t readily acknowledge this or do anything about it (in time) Never mind. Nature will (and already is) starting to deal with us. And on a practical level, can these areas support the extra homes/people? Traffic, schools, doctors, dentists, sewers/waste water, rubbish disposal and water?
By Anonymous
Housing development in the UK is such a weird thing.
If there were too few eggs in the supermarket, farmers would supply more eggs.
If there were too few cars, manufacturers would manufacture more cars.
There are too few houses, but people lie down in front of bulldozers to stop more houses being built. If people want infrastructure before new housing, as they persistently complain, then they should pay more taxes to pay for it rather than whining about a lack of road investment.
We live in a very immature country, with very immature views on providing a basic commodity called housing.
By Rob
Delighted. Maybe my kids might have a chance of moving out 1 day. All the selfish objectors living in their nice valuable properties.
By Anonymous