Planning Committee

Planning Committee

Fri 22nd May 2020, 10:00am

Responds to the planning applications within Macclesfield as a statutory consultee.

Key Information

Dates

Fri 22nd May 2020, 10:00am

In Categories

Planning Committee
Agendas

Macclesfield Town Council

Planning Committee Agenda 22nd May 2020

Due to the Coronavirus Covid-19 restrictions and in line with the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 this meeting will be held remotely, broadcast on youtube.com and can be viewed on the Macclesfield Town Council youtube.com channel.

Agenda for the meeting on 22nd May 2020 at 10am

1. Apologies for Absence

2. Declarations of Interest


The meeting will be adjourned to invite public comments and questions. Following which the meeting will be reconvened.

NOTE:

If you would like to speak during public session, please email clerk@macclesfield-tc.gov.uk by 12 noon on 20/05/20. Every practicable effort will be made to try and arrange your inclusion.

If you would like to submit a written statement, please submit your statement for inclusion and circulation to the committee to clerk@macclesfield-tc.gov.uk by 12 noon on 20/05/20.


3. Minutes of the Planning Committee Meeting Held on 1st May 2020

Action: To consider the draft minutes as a true record of the meeting

4. Matters Arising From the Minutes

Action: To consider any matters arising from the minutes

5. Observations on Planning Applications

The planning authority has been informed of the date of this meeting and any delays in responses as they relate to all applications with response closing dates before the date of this meeting.

Application No: 19/3098M

Proposal: Erection of 23no. dwellings, vehicular access, roads and footways, hard and soft landscaping, drainage and other associated works.

Location: Land between Chelford Road Henbury and Whirley Road Macclesfield Cheshire

Application No: 20/1720M

Proposal: Lean-to greenhouse to the back of the house

Location: 67, ROE STREET, MACCLESFIELD, SK11 6XD

Application No: 20/1580D

Proposal: Discharge of conditions 5 & 8 on approval 15/3729M.

Location: ALBION MILL, LONDON ROAD, MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE

Application No: 20/1683M

Proposal: Prior approval for change of use from cake shop to cafe.

Location: 104, WESTMINSTER ROAD, MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE, SK10 3AJ

Application No: 20/1823M

Proposal: Rear kitchen extension, replacement of conservatory and pre-fab concrete outhouse with masonry extensions, replacement of carport with garage, larger front porch and bay window to the lounge, extending

Location: 26, AMBERLEY ROAD, MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE, SK11 8LX

Application No: 20/1837M

Proposal: Two storey rear extension, single storey rear extension & alterations (re-submission of application 20/0370M)

Location: 50, RYLES PARK ROAD, MACCLESFIELD, SK11 8AL

Application No: 20/1885M

Proposal: Demolition of existing ground floor extension to the rear of the property. Proposed ground floor extension to the rear of the property

Location: 3, HALL GROVE, MACCLESFIELD, SK10 2HQ

Application No: 20/1901M

Proposal: Proposed demolition of existing porch & conservatory & erection of single storey front & rear extensions including garage conversion to habitable space

Location: 4, THETFORD CLOSE, MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE, SK10 2TP

Application No: 20/1123M

Proposal: Conversion of office to dwelling

Location: 5, PRESTBURY ROAD, MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE, SK10 1AU

Application No: 20/1974M

Proposal: 2 storey front and side extension.

Location: 8, CHERRYFIELDS ROAD, MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE, SK11 8RF

6. Conservation Area Review

Action: To note any updates.

7. Town Character Assessment

Action: To note any updates.

8. Planning Administration

To consider the report on Planning Administration.

9. Correspondence

None.

10. Member Items

None.

11. Date/Time and Place of Next Meeting

The date of the next meeting of the Planning Committee is 10am on 12th June 2020.

The format/venue to be confirmed subject to C-19 restrictions and related regulations.

Minutes

Macclesfield Town Council

Planning Committee Minutes 22nd May 2020

Due to the Coronavirus Covid-19 restrictions and in line with the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 this meeting will be held remotely, broadcast on youtube.com and can be viewed on the Macclesfield Town Council youtube.com channel.

Minutes for the meeting held on 22nd May 2020 at 10am

In attendance:

  • Cllr David Edwardes
  • Cllr Janet Jackson MBE
  • Cllr Fiona Wilson
  • Cllr Lloyd Roberts

Also, in attendance was Cllr Harewood MBE, observing but taking no active part in the meeting, discussions or decisions.

1. Apologies for Absence

None

2. Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.


The meeting was adjourned to invite public comments and questions.

> Richard Slater, resident, spoke of his concerns on application 19/3098M:

  • Shortage of secondary school places with planning applications for emergency classrooms.
  • Broken Cross junction improvements yet to be designed/implemented.
  • The original traffic assessment was completed on a day when Fallibroome Academy capacity was at 50%.
  • There is no requirement for the additional site but it will ease the financial burden on the developers.
  • The additional houses will exceed the number of allocated houses for the site as documented in the Cheshire East Council Local Plan Strategy.
  • The houses backing onto Whirley Road are not in keeping with the existing properties.
  • The site is in a flood zone.
  • The site is in close proximity to an Air Quality Assessment Area.
  • That the application should be called in for discussion at Cheshire East Council’s Strategic Planning Board.

> The Town Clerk read out the following submission from Cllr Fin Shenton, Macclesfield Town Councillor for Broken Cross and Upton:

Good morning everyone. I thank the chair for allowing me to have this prepared statement read out by the town clerk.

I am strongly opposed to the proposed erection of 23 dwellings on the land between Chelford Road and Whirley Road. When combined with planning proposal 19/3097M and the approved application for 18/0294M, the total number of dwellings far exceeds that of the 150 dwellings proposed in the Local Plan.

1. There are environmental concerns, particularly surrounding the issue of air quality. With public transport provision already being inadequate, residents of the new dwellings would be forced to jump in their cars when travelling into the town centre, travelling along the A537. This would only compound the congestion problems at Broken Cross, as well as making it potentially hazardous for cyclists and pedestrians especially given the ongoing issues with speeding down Chelford Road. Given that Broken Cross is an Air Quality Management Area, it would be irresponsible to compound the problem further with the increased levels of traffic that the proposal will inevitably lead to.

2. The area is also prone to flooding, being situated in a Cheshire East red flood zone. Developers only have to look at the pictures attached by residents of Whirley Road on the portal for 19/3098M to know that residents regularly face damage from flooding in the winter. The current risk of flooding can already be observed as surface water runs along Chelford Road and Whirley Road as the drainage system cannot cope. This issue would only be exacerbated by such a development.

3. There has been no consideration at all regarding primary and secondary school places. Pressure for places has been high for some time now at the closet secondary, The Fallibroome Academy. In January 2019, a Cheshire East members briefing found that secondary school places are already at maximum, with Macclesfield Secondary Education short 392 places. A similar shortage has been concluded for Primary School places.

4. Loss of habitat. The boggy nature of the site and the existence of a large pond has meant the area has become rich in biodiversity. Geese and ducks overwinter in this area and it is home to Barn Owls, Tawny owls, Kestrels, as well as bats. The presence of the Great Crested Newt on an adjoining pond must also be considered. The development of this site will destroy yet another rich wildlife habitat and will make Macclesfield poorer for it.

I thank the committee for listening to this statement and I hope you see fit to object to the application.

> Cllr James Barber, Cheshire East Councillor for Broken Cross and Upton, spoke of his concerns on and objections to application 19/3098M:

  • Over allocation of houses beyond the number started in Cheshire East Council’s Local Plan Strategy for the site.
  • Insufficient school places.
  • Pre-existing highway pressures Chelford Road and Broken Cross roundabout.
  • Destruction of habitat.
  • Loss of peat bog.
  • The health care service is already under pressure.
  • Lack of affordable housing.
  • The development is unsustainable and will cause damage to the area.

Following the public comments, the meeting was reconvened.


3. Minutes of the Planning Committee Meeting Held on 1st May 2020

RESOLVED: That the minutes are approved as a true record of the meeting.

4. Matters Arising From the Minutes

None.

5. Observations on Planning Applications

The planning authority has been informed of the date of this meeting and any delays in responses as they relate to all applications with response closing dates before the date of this meeting.

Application No: 19/3098M

Proposal: Erection of 23no. dwellings, vehicular access, roads and footways, hard and soft landscaping, drainage and other associated works.

Location: Land between Chelford Road Henbury and Whirley Road Macclesfield Cheshire

RESOLVED: That the committee objects to this application on the grounds of:

  1. Incompatibility with Macclesfield Town Council and Cheshire East Council’s declaration of climate emergency; the development will lead to increased traffic volumes and therefore further exacerbate the poor air quality in the Broken Cross Air Quality Management Area.
  2. Lack of cycle and pedestrian routes between the development and town centre which is in incompatible with Macclesfield Town Council and Cheshire East Council’s declaration of a climate emergency.
  3. The Broken Cross junction is a known bottleneck in and out of Macclesfield; congestion will be worsened by an increase in traffic from the development. Additionally, a traffic plan to ease the bottlenecks at this junction has yet to be published.
  4. Increased pressure on public transport in a time when services are being reduced.
  5. Overdevelopment of the site; the number of planned houses exceeds the allocation for the site as published in Cheshire East Council’s Local Plan Strategy.
  6. Lack of affordable housing within the development.
  7. Increased pressure on primary care facilities.
  8. Increased pressure on availability of primary school places.
  9. Increased pressure on secondary school places; a shortfall of 392 places by 2024 has been identified by Cheshire East Council.
  10. Removal of trees and hedges which is in incompatible with Macclesfield Town Council and Cheshire East Council’s declaration of a climate emergency.
  11. The development site is prone to flooding and will be exacerbated by the development.

Additionally, the committee sought confirmation that peat will not be removed from the site and that any extraction of peat will strictly comply with the policies of the National Planning Policy Framework and Cheshire East Council policies.

The committee wished to reiterate their objection to this application at the meeting held on 19/07/19 on the basis of:

  1. The site is within close proximity of the Broken Cross Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and the development will lead to increased traffic volumes and therefore further exacerbate the poor air quality of that AQMA, contrary to the Cheshire East Air Quality Management Strategy;
  2. Lack of cycle and pedestrian routes within the development and between the development and town centre, contrary to the LPS Policy SC3;
  3. Increase of traffic on already congested highways with particular pressure on the development’s access and egress junction;
  4. Increased pressure on public services, e.g. buses, that have already been subject to cuts;
  5. High density of housing in the development reducing the availability of open spaces to support health and wellbeing contrary to the LPS Policy SC3;
  6. The density of the development is in excess of the site allocation within the Cheshire East Local Plan (LPS18), which indicates around 150 houses for the entire site, whilst this partial development of the site indicates around 250 residences will be delivered at this development density
  7. Increased pressure on primary care facilities;
  8. Increased pressure on availability of primary school places;
  9. Lack of evidence that there is capacity in local secondary schools;
  10. Removal of trees and hedges that will result in the loss of wildlife habitat;
  11. Concerns on the risk of flooding in the development area once the hard standing has been completed;
  12. The application does not clearly meet the Local Plan policy requirements of LPS18 1., 2., 3. & 5.

The meeting was briefly adjourned at this point before being reconvened.

Application No: 20/1720M

Proposal: Lean-to greenhouse to the back of the house

Location: 67, ROE STREET, MACCLESFIELD, SK11 6XD

No objections.

Application No: 20/1580D

Proposal: Discharge of conditions 5 & 8 on approval 15/3729M.

Location: ALBION MILL, LONDON ROAD, MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE

No objections.

Application No: 20/1683M

Proposal: Prior approval for change of use from cake shop to cafe.

Location: 104, WESTMINSTER ROAD, MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE, SK10 3AJ

No objections.

Application No: 20/1823M

Proposal: Rear kitchen extension, replacement of conservatory and pre-fab concrete outhouse with masonry extensions, replacement of carport with garage, larger front porch and bay window to the lounge, extending

Location: 26, AMBERLEY ROAD, MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE, SK11 8LX

No objections.

Application No: 20/1837M

Proposal: Two storey rear extension, single storey rear extension & alterations (re-submission of application 20/0370M)

Location: 50, RYLES PARK ROAD, MACCLESFIELD, SK11 8AL

No objections.

Application No: 20/1885M

Proposal: Demolition of existing ground floor extension to the rear of the property. Proposed ground floor extension to the rear of the property

Location: 3, HALL GROVE, MACCLESFIELD, SK10 2HQ

No objections.

Application No: 20/1901M

Proposal: Proposed demolition of existing porch & conservatory & erection of single storey front & rear extensions including garage conversion to habitable space

Location: 4, THETFORD CLOSE, MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE, SK10 2TP

No objections.

Application No: 20/1123M

Proposal: Conversion of office to dwelling

Location: 5, PRESTBURY ROAD, MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE, SK10 1AU

RESOLVED: That the committee objects to this application on the grounds that:

  1. There is a discrepancy between the application for a single property and the development plans for two properties.
  2. There is a discrepancy between the application and plans for parking spaces.

The committee sought that the application is withdrawn and resubmitted with greater clarity and definition as the submitted application is not clear enough for proper consideration.

Application No: 20/1974M

Proposal: 2 storey front and side extension.

Location: 8, CHERRYFIELDS ROAD, MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE, SK11 8RF

No objections.

6. Conservation Area Review

The committee was provided with a verbal update stating that Cheshire East Council has confirmed it is not in a position to fund the Macclesfield Town Centre Conservation Area Review but will support the review process.

A meeting between the committee and Cheshire East Council Planning Officers will be scheduled as soon as practicably possible to initiate the review.

7. Town Character Assessment

It was noted that progression on this item is pending confirmation from Cheshire East Council on how a town character assessment would fit with its planning policies.

8. Planning Administration

RESOLVED:

  1. That the Council purchases Rialtas Planning Administration software to support the administration of the Planning Committee.
  2. That the accounting tool, asset register and planning software are hosted remotely to future proof the administration of council business operations.
  3. That the recommendation for remote hosting of accounting tool, asset register and planning software are referred to the Services & Finance Committees for consideration.

9. Correspondence

None.

10. Member Items

None.

11. Date/Time and Place of Next Meeting

The date of the next meeting of the Planning Committee is 10am on 12th June 2020.

The format/venue to be confirmed subject to C-19 restrictions and related regulations.

Meeting closed at 11.11am

Chair Cllr David Edwardes

Clerk Harriet Worrell

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