Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M Hunter and S Hogben.

In the interest of openness in respect of application 21/4490N, Councillor N Mannion declared that until May 2021 he was the Portfolio Holder at Cheshire East Council with responsibility for assets and therefore whilst he was aware of the proposals for such a development he had not been involved in the drafting of the planning application and was only aware of the details when he read the agenda.

In the interest of openness in respect of application 21/4434N, Councillor S Edgar declared he was the Ward Councillor for Haslington and the Parish Councillor for Weston & Basford Parish Council. He had attended a pre application meeting but had made no comments on the application or pre-determined it.

In the interest of openness in respect of application 20/5700C, Councillor S Edgar declared that he was a member of the Cheshire Brine Subsidence Compensation Board.

In the interest of openness in respect of applications 20/5700C, 21/4434N, 21/4490N and 21/2589M, Councillor S Edgar declared that he was a member of the Public Rights of Way Committee (PRoW) however he had not discussed the applications or made any comments on them.

In the interest of openness in respect of application 20/5700C, Councillor A Critchley declared he knew Councillor J Parry who was speaking on the application.

In the interest of openness in respect of application21/2589M, Councillor S Gardiner declared that whilst he did not know the agent speaking on the application, the speaker did work for a company he also used to be employed by and was a member of their pension scheme.

In the interest of openness in respect of application 21/4490N, Councillor P Redstone declared he had previously been involved in the PV industry but was no longer involved and he had no connection with the company connected to the application.

In the interest of openness in respect of application 20/5700C, Councillor S Akers Smith declared that she had met with Town Councillor G Orme who was speaking on the application the previous week but she had not discussed the application with him.

It was noted all Members had received correspondence in respect of application 21/4434N.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 2 February 2022 as a correct record.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 2 February 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

A total period of 5 minutes is allocated for each of the planning applications for the following:

·         Ward Councillors who are not members of the Strategic Planning Board

·         The relevant Town/Parish Council

A period of 3 minutes is allocated for each of the planning applications for the following individuals/groups:

·         Members who are not members of the Strategic Planning Board and are not the Ward Member

·         Objectors

·         Supporters

·         Applicants

RESOLVED

That the public speaking procedure be noted.

(Prior to consideration of the following application, Councillor B Murphy arrived to the meeting).

To consider the above application.

Consideration was given to the above application.

(Councillor Jonathan Parry, the Ward Councillor, Town Councillor Graham Orme, representing Middlewich Town Council and Brian O’Connor, the agent for the applicant attended the meeting and spoke in respect of the application).

RESOLVED

That the application be deferred in order for the applicant to give further consideration to the housing mix notably the provision of 2 bedroom properties and for further clarification to be provided on the drainage and flooding issues.

(Prior to consideration of the following item, the meeting was adjourned for a short break).

To consider the above application.

Consideration was given to the above application.

(Ian Harrison, representing the applicant attended the meeting and spoke in respect of the application).

RESOLVED

That for the reasons set out in the report and in the written and verbal update to the Board, the application be delegated to the Head of Planning in consultation with the Chair of the Strategic Planning Broad (or in their absence the Vice Chair) to approve subject to receipt of evidence that the development is eligible to join Natural England’s District level Licencing Scheme, the provision of additional ecological information to ensure the mitigation of protected species and habitat and the subject to the following conditions:-

1.         In accordance with outline permission

2.         In accordance with approved plans

3.         Notwithstanding the plans hereby approved, no consent is given for the area hatched in orange adjacent to Crotia Mill. This shall be the subject of a further reserved matters application

4.         Submission/approval of facing and roofing materials

5.         Details of hard surfacing treatments    

6.         Implementation of landscaping

7.         Tree Protection Scheme and Arboricultural Method Statement

8.         Management of veteran trees

9.         Noise mitigation – Implementation

10.       Design detail, specification and implementation of play areas/features  

11.       Cycle storage details – Apartments  

12.       Provision of public art/interpretation

13.       Inclusion of pedestrian crossing points on the main east-west spine and

           southern avenue

14.       Submission of working design/details for SuDS basins and rain gardens

15.       Details of lighting and street furniture to be submitted

16.       25-year landscape management period

17.       10 years maintenance/retention of roadside trees

18.       Remediation of Unexpected Contamination

19.       Importation of soils

20.      Appointment of Ecological Clerk of works

21.      Liaison Group 

In order to give proper effect to the Strategic Planning Board’s intent and without changing the substance of its decision, authority is delegated to the Head of Planning in consultation with the Chair (or in their absence the Vice Chair) to correct any technical slip or omission in the resolution before issue of the decision notice.

(Prior to consideration of the following item, the meeting was adjourned for a short break.  Councillor B Murphy left the meeting and did not return).

To consider the above application.

Consideration was given to the above application.

(Daniel Griffiths, the applicant attended the meeting and spoke in respect of the application).

RESOLVED

That for the reasons set out in the report the application be approved subject to the following conditions:-

1. Time limit
2. Approved plans
3. Submission and implementation of habitat creation method statement and 30-year management plan
4. Entry into Natural England’s District Licencing Scheme for Great Crested Newts
5. Protection for breeding/nesting birds
6. Tree retention
7. Tree protection measures
8. Compliance with the submitted Flood Risk Assessment
9. Programme of archaeological observation during the groundworks for the battery storage and sub-station
10. Within 40 years following the development being brought into use or within 12 months of cessation of electricity generation, whichever is sooner, all equipment and structures shall be dismantled and removed from the site and the land restored to agricultural use

In order to give proper effect to the Board’s intentions and without changing the substance of the decision, authority is delegated to the Head of Planning, in consultation with the Chair (or in their absence the Vice Chair) of the Strategic Planning Board, to correct any technical slip or omission in the wording of the resolution before issue of the decision notice.

To consider the above application.

Consideration was given to the above application.

(Gareth Salthouse, the agent for the applicant attended the meeting and spoke in respect of the application).

RESOLVED

That the application be refused for the following reason:-

Green Belt - The site lies within the North Cheshire Green Belt. The proposed development, whilst not inappropriate development by definition, would lead to a loss of openness and encroachment in the Green Belt.  The various structures, features and associated means of enclosure would have a material impact on openness and cause encroachment into the countryside thereby undermining the purposes of including land within the Green Belt.  By reason of the harm to openness, the proposed development represents inappropriate development in the Green Belt.  There are not considered to be material considerations that clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt by reason of loss of openness.  The proposal is therefore contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework, Policy PG 3 of the Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy and saved Policy GC1 of the Macclesfield Borough Local Plan.

In order to give proper effect to the Board’s intentions and without changing the substance of the decision, authority is delegated to the Head of Planning, in consultation with the Chair (or in his absence the Vice Chair) of the Strategic Planning Board to correct any technical slip or omission in the wording of the resolution, between approval of the minutes and issue of the decision notice.