Cheshire Green Belt housing approved
A team led by planning consultant Peter Brett Associates has secured planning permission from Cheshire East Council to redevelop a Green Belt site off Northwood Lane in High Legh for three executive houses totalling 5,000 sq ft on behalf of Nichols Ventures.
The site is currently occupied by two large sheds and a storage yard. The land is considered to be previously developed under the National Planning Policy Framework definition, PBA said.
PBA successfully argued that the three proposed houses will not undermine the openness of the Green Belt, this being the key test set by the final bullet of NPPF paragraph 89. That was accepted by the council despite the houses not being located wholly within the footprint of the existing buildings.
Bernard Greep, equity director of PBA, said: “Whilst this is a relatively modest scheme, it is important because it confirms that the redevelopment of brownfield sites in the Green Belt can be acceptable even where the new buildings are not fully within the footprint of the existing buildings. The key test is whether the development proposed would adversely affect the openness of the Green Belt.”
The scheme architect was Calderpeel and the landscape architect was Environmental Associates.