48-home outline scheme at Land East Of Congleton Road North, Scholar Green

What was proposed

The application sought outline permission for up to 48 homes, landscaping and infrastructure, with only the main site access decided now.

“Application No: 25/4333/OUT Application Type: Outline Planning Location: Land East Of Congleton Road North, Church Lawton, Cheshire East, ST7 3AX”

“Proposal: Outline Planning Application for up to 48 Dwellings, Landscaping and Associated Infrastructure (all matters reserved except for the main site access)”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The 1.65-hectare site is agricultural land in the Green Belt and Open Countryside, beside the canal and its Conservation Area.

“The application relates to an area of land to the east of Congleton Road North. The site extends to 1.65 hectares and is located within the Green Belt and Open Countryside.”

“To the east of the site is the Macclesfield Canal, which is located within a Conservation Area. An unnamed watercourse crosses part of the application site and runs to the rear of the dwellings to the north-western boundary.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers considered the site Grey Belt and sustainable, with housing, economic and social benefits outweighing the identified adverse effects.

“The Council is no longer able to demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply, and the proposals are deemed to fall within one of the exceptions to inappropriate development in the Green Belt, that relating to ‘Grey Belt’ (Policy GB7 of the NPPF).”

“The proposal would provide economic benefits in the form of housing delivery; the economic benefit of the construction works to the supply chain and the local economy, and economic benefits of the new dwellings once occupied. These benefits should be weighed in favour of the proposed development.”

Officer report

Who spoke at the meeting

The meeting heard from the parish council clerk, an objector and the agent; a ward councillor’s statement was also read.

What members considered

Members required further details about the access levels, land stability, ground works and effects on retained trees’ root protection areas.

“That the application be DEFERRED for the following reasons:”

“Details of existing and proposed levels for the access point • An assessment of the stability of the land as existing and proposed with the new access • Consideration of the impact of the ground works to construct the access and the impact upon the root protection area of the retained trees.”

Minutes