Plans for dozens of greenbelt homes at Alderley Edge

Developer argues site meets ‘grey belt’ criteria and cause only minor harm

Plans have been submitted for up to 70 homes on green belt land at Alderley Edge.

Bellway Homes wants to build the dwellings on 3.18 hectares of pastoral agricultural land west of Wilmslow Road.

Access to the development would be via a priority T-junction from Wilmslow Road.

A design and access statement, submitted with the outline application, states: “The scheme demonstrates the future ability to include detached, semi-detached and mews style two to five-bed dwellings, up to 2.5 storeys in height with associated car parking and landscaping.”

The proposals include 45 per cent affordable housing, about 0.92 hectares of landscaping, public open space and ecological areas and ‘significant’ area of public open space across the site, according to the planning statement.

The planning statement, submitted by Savills on behalf of the applicant, says the proposed development is in a sustainable location within walking and cycling distance of key services and facilities, as well as active travel and public transport options.

It also argues the site meets grey belt criteria and so would not be inappropriate development in the green belt.

“The scheme would result in the delivery of up to 70 homes at a time when the council cannot demonstrate a requisite level of housing land supply for the five-year period,” says the planning statement.

“The proposals also deliver 45 per cent affordable homes.

“Other moderate and minor benefits are associated with economic impacts, provision of new publicly accessible open space, and biodiversity net gain.”

It acknowledges ‘minor harm’ in terms of localised landscape and visual impact, and contravention to the out-of-date open countryside policy.

But it says ‘these limited harms do not outweigh the significant benefits’.

The planning document concludes: “The site represents a much-needed residential development in a sustainable location which has been designed to be in keeping with the character of surrounding area and land uses.”

The application, number 26/1143/OUT, can be viewed on the planning portal on Cheshire East Council’s website.

The last date for submitting comments is May 27.

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