Cheshire East recommends new housing plans
Councillors in Cheshire East are set to vote this week on applications for 780 homes recommended for approval by officers as part of the development of strategic sites allocated within the draft local plan.
Four schemes in Crewe, Macclesfield, Nantwich and Congleton have been recommended for approval by council officers ahead of a meeting of the strategic planning board on Wednesday.
In some cases, the developments sit within open countryside, but have been allocated as strategic sites and therefore suitable for house building according to the Cheshire East draft local plan.
The submitted plans include:
- Development of 350 homes, an extra care facility, 4,000 sq ft convenience store, 1,000 sq ft retail, pub restaurant, children's day care centre and doctors surgery at White Moss Quarry in Crewe by Renew Land Development
- Reserved matters application from Redrow Homes for 162 homes in Tytherington, North Macclesfield on 14-acre site
- 171 units at 17-acre former Stapeley Water Gardens in Nantwich by David Wilson Homes
- Development of 96 homes by Worth Partnership in Hulme Walfield in Congleton in open countryside
Reports to the planning board acknowledged the schemes on White Moss Quarry and Hulme Walfield as a "departure from local policy".
As a condition of approval for the White Moss Quarry scheme, the officers recommended 130,000 sq ft of public space be included in the development.
Cheshire East Council has lost numerous planning appeals in the past two years. The council rejected schemes on the basis that they did not fit with its local plan. It said that the new houses were not needed in order to meet its five-year housing target. However planning inspectors have repeatedly ruled that Cheshire East does not have a demonstrable five-year supply.
Perhaps I should mention the South Planning Committee Report for 27th August states Cheshire East Council are still claiming they can demonstrate a 5 year supply. Despite numerous appeal decisions over the last few months, by different inspectors, all coming to the same conclusion, the council continue to act like idiots and seemingly unbeknownst to residents are spouting thousands upon thousands of tax payers money up the wall against an already lost cause. Congratulations.
By LJA
Another appeal soon then!
By Jones
Let’s hope that common sense will prevail on this occasion and that the Planning Board will heed the recommendations of the Professionals/Experts in the Planning Department and APPROVE these applications to provide these much needed homes, in line with Officer’s recommendations.
By DS