Cheshire East refuses 92 former Green Belt homes

A failure to supply sufficient information on the scheme’s impact on wildlife and highways proved to be the downfall of Jones Homes and Redrow Homes’ plans for the 16-acre plot off Congleton Road at the council’s strategic planning board meeting yesterday.

Designed by The Environment Partnership, the scheme would have seen 92 one- to five-bedroom houses delivered on the site near Macclesfield. Of these homes, 30% would have been affordable.

Jones and Redrow’s outline plans also included more than six acres of open space, featuring a children’s play area.

The development would have been accessed off a new four-way roundabout junction off Congleton Road.

Refusal of the plans followed officer recommendations.

Councillors expressed concerns regarding a lack of information provided on the scheme’s impact on highways and wildlife, as well as how the masterplan would be delivered. There were also fears surrounding the loss of employment and industrial space.

The 16-acre greenfield site was removed from the Green Belt following the adoption of the Cheshire East Local Plan and forms part of a wider 66-acre plot allocated for up to 300 homes, as well as employment space.

Lichfields is the planning consultant for the scheme. The project team also includes transport consultant CBO Transport, arboricultural consultant Cheshire Woodlands, and noise consultant E3P.

This isn’t the first time the pair of housebuilders have worked together. Last November, Jones and Redrow were granted planning permission to deliver 216 homes off Chelford Road in Macclesfield.

To find out more about the Congleton Road plans, search for application number 21/4113M on Cheshire East Council’s planning portal.