Agenda item

To consider a report and recommendations on the Cheshire East Local Plan.

 

Members are reminded to bring their copy of the documentation to the meeting.

 

The documents referred to in the report may be accessed via the links in the report.  A limited number of paper copies of the document will be available at the meeting for members of the public to refer to but not to take away.

 

Copies of the documents are available to purchase on request.  For further details contact the officer listed at the foot of this agenda.

 

Copies of the documentation are also available for public inspection at the following locations:

 

·         The Customer Centre, Town Hall, Macclesfield, SK10 1EA

·         The Municipal Buildings, Earle Street, Crewe, CW1 2BJ

·         The Council Headquarters, Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach CW11 1HZ

Consideration was given to a report regarding proposed changes to the Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy, alongside the Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) and Sustainability (Integrated) Appraisal (SA) Addendums for public consultation, together with the recommendations of the Strategic Planning Board meeting on 18 February and the Cabinet meeting on 23 February.

 

The recommendations as set out on page 372 of the report, together with the recommendations of the Strategic Planning Board and of Cabinet, were proposed by Councillor Rachel Bailey and seconded byCouncillor David Brown.

 

Although it was not common practice for officers to speak at full Council meetings, in this instance and in view of the importance of the Local Plan to the Council, a series of presentations was given by Mr A Fisher, the Council’s Head of Planning Strategy.

 

Following a presentation on strategic policies by the Head of Planning Strategy, the following members of the public spoke in respect of the Cheshire East Local Plan:

 

Mrs Sue Helliwell

Mr Keith Williams

Mr David Lewis

Ms Eileen Furr

Mr Brian Chaplin

Mr Andrew Haldane

Ms Heather Jones

Mr Pat Cullen

 

The Member debate on strategic policies was followed by closing comments by Councillor Rachel Bailey, the proposer of the motion.

 

Presentations by the Head of Planning Strategy on Crewe & Nantwich, Macclesfield, Handforth & Knutsford, and Alsager, Congleton & Middlewich were followed by Member debate and closing comments by Councillor Rachel Bailey.

 

The meeting adjourned for lunch at 1 pm and reconvened at 1.45 pm

 

The following members of the public spoke in respect of the Cheshire East Local Plan:

 

Mr Ashley Weinberg

Mr Roger Bagguley

Mr Manuel Golding

 

Presentations by the Head of Planning Strategy on Poynton & Sandbach, and Wilmslow and “other sites” were followed by Member debate and closing comments by Councillor Rachel Bailey.

 

The following amendments were proposed and seconded and declared lost:

 

·      On page 89 of the Local Plan Strategy in the section Vision for Key Service Centres – to not delete the words “to meet local needs” Proposed: Councillor D Hough Seconded: Councillor R Fletcher

 

·      To remove CS41 Chelford Road / Whirley Road. This site should be removed the site allocations and therefore the Local Plan Strategy as it fails the site selection methodology namely impact on infrastructure, including transports networks, and schools. Proposed: Councillor M Hardy Seconded: Councillor L Durham

 

·      To omit the Site CS43 ‘Radway Green North’ in Alsager. Proposed: Councillor D Hough Seconded: Councillor R Fletcher

 

·      Policy CS24 (Capricorn): The area in the south of the site currently designated as housing should be designated as mixed use (where planning permission has not already been granted) and add new paragraph to say “the land designated as mixed use will only be used for housing if it can be demonstrated that there is no demand for employment use and/or employment use is not viable.” Proposed: Councillor S Corcoran Seconded: Councillor S Hogben

 

·      To remove Policies CS62 and CS63 from the Local Plan Strategy Proposed: Councillor T Fox Seconded: Councillor A Moran

 

·      That the safeguarded land (Wm 33) at Cumber Lane / Upcast Lane, be reduced to the previously suggested allocation (CS36) as detailed on page LPS 547.  This was a late inclusion that fails to take account of widespread local opposition and acknowledged access problems.  The impact on Lindow School and local sporting groups such as Lindow Cricket Club would be unacceptable. Proposed: Councillor G Barton Seconded: Councillor E Brooks

 

·      That the land west of Alderley Road (part of CS26) that is a vital green corridor in Wilmslow and was an unwelcome late addition to the Plan, and was previously designated as ‘protected open space’ be removed from the Local Plan Strategy. Proposed: Councillor G Barton Seconded: Councillor R Menlove

 

·      To delete paragraph 2.4 of the Council Report such that after the consultation period is over any further proposed changes to the Local Plan Strategy should be referred to Full Council. Proposed: Councillor A Moran Seconded: Councillor M Parsons

 

The following amendments were proposed and seconded and declared carried:

 

·      The Director of Planning and Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, amend the supporting text to policy CS9 to make it clear the site encompasses open farm land as well as the school and its curtilage. Especially at point 15.155 which should include reference to the farmland. Proposed: Councillor M Warren Seconded: Councillor J Jackson

 

·      To add the words “Detailed design considerations would be decided at that future point” at the end of paragraph 15.179k under Policy CS32 of the Local Plan Strategy. Proposed: Councillor L Durham Seconded: Councillor M Hardy

 

·      An amendment to the descriptive wording for the proposed Knutsford employment site, land west of Manchester Road (Policy CS 18(B)) such that the development of this site is restricted to a quality development for B1 use only, with the wording to be delegated to the Director of Planning and Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder. Proposed: Councillor T Dean Seconded: Councillor S Gardiner

 

·      Strategic sites related to the Congleton Link Road state that funding is for the link road and the A34 Corridor. The reference to the A34 Corridor should be removed from the following policies: CS44, CS45, CS16, CS46, CS17, CS47. Proposed: Councillor D Brown Seconded: Councillor G Baxendale

 

·      The Director of Planning and Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, be authorised to amend the introduction to Middlewich to emphasise the role of the By-Pass both strategically and locally, and to modify the wording of paragraphs 2.288 and 15.303 to be consistent in reference to the station and to alter the map figure 15.34 to show better location options for a railway station between CS54 and CS56. Proposed: Councillor S McGrory Seconded: Councillor D Brown

 

·      Policy CS24 (Capricorn): The wording in the Local Plan Strategy relating to 20 hectares of employment land should be strengthened with a view to protecting and safeguarding its retention and delivery. Thus paragraphs 15.344, 15.345 and 15.346 should be enhanced accordingly, with the precise additional wording to be delegated to the Director of Planning and Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder. Proposed: Councillor B Moran Seconded: Councillor G Wait

 

·      To add wording to Policy CS61 to protect residents overlooking Little Stanneylands, Wilmslow with such wording delegated to the Director of Planning and Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder. Proposed: Councillor D Stockton Seconded: Councillor R Menlove

 

·      The Director of Planning and Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, adds clarity to Policy CS26 so it is clear that additional educational buildings related to the existing and future use of the protected open space as playing fields or school curtilage will be permitted in principle. Proposed: Councillor G Hayes Seconded: Councillor P Bates

 

A requisition for a recorded vote on the substantive motion was submitted and duly supported in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.2, with the following result:

 

For

 

Councillors C Andrew, A Arnold, G Baggott, D Bailey, Rachel Bailey, Rhoda Bailey, P Bates, G Baxendale, D Bebbington, S Brookfield, D Brown, C Browne, P Butterill, C Chapman, J Clowes, H Davenport, S Davies, M Deakin, T Dean, L Durham, S Edgar, I Faseyi, J P Findlow, S Gardiner, S Gardner, M Grant, P Groves, J Hammond, AHarewood, G Hayes, O Hunter, A Kolker, A Martin, S McGrory, R Menlove, G Merry, A Moran, B Moran, D Newton, M Parsons, S Pochin, J Rhodes, B Roberts, M Simon, L Smetham, D Stockton, G Wait, B Walmsley, G Walton, J Weatherill, H Wells-Bradshaw, G Williams, J Wray

 

Against

 

Councillors B Burkhill, T Fox

 

Not Voting

 

Councillors G Barton, M Beanland, E Brooks, R Fletcher, D Flude, H Gaddum, M Hardy, S Hogben, D Hough, J Jackson, L Jeuda, D Mahon, H Murray, J Saunders, M Sewart, A Stott, M Warren

 

The motion was carried by 53 votes for, 2 against and 17 not voting.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.  That the Sustainability (Integrated) Appraisal and Habitats Regulation Assessment Addendums (Appendix 5 to the report) be approved for public consultation and submission to the Inspector.

 

2.  That the proposed changes to the Local Plan Strategy (Appendix 1 to the report) be approved for public consultation and submission to the Inspector, subject to the following amendments:

 

·      An amendment to be made by the Head of Planning Strategy to the plan at figure 15.50 on page LPS525 to remove from that plan a small area of land hatched red to the north of the site (Mereside Car Park) which had been included in the red hatching in error.

 

·      Replace the wording in paragraph 15.96F as follows:

EXISTING PARAGRAPH 15.96F (REPLACE)

A new pedestrian and cycle link will be created south of the railway line to Basford East. This must provide a safe and secure environment for children to travel to school. For example it could take the form of an attractive country lane with low density housing, which will afford a lit and overlooked route.

PARAGRAPH 15.96F NEW WORDING:

A new pedestrian and cycle link will be created to Basford East. This must provide a safe and secure environment for children to travel to school . Priority should be given to a route on the north of the Railway line, combined with a cycle / footbridge. Only if after thorough exploration a northern route proves unfeasible, will an access south of the railway be permitted. This could take the form of  an all-weather lit route. No vehicular link to Basford East will be permitted.

 

·      The Director of Planning and Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, amend the supporting text to policy CS9 to make it clear the site encompasses open farm land as well as the school and its curtilage. Especially at point 15.155 which should include reference to the farmland.

 

·      To add the words “Detailed design considerations would be decided at that future point” at the end of paragraph 15.179k under Policy CS32 of the Local Plan Strategy.

 

·      An amendment to the descriptive wording for the proposed Knutsford employment site, land west of Manchester Road (Policy CS 18(B)) such that the development of this site is restricted to a quality development for B1 use only, with the wording to be delegated to the Director of Planning and Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder.

 

·      Strategic sites related to the Congleton Link Road state that funding is for the link road and the A34 Corridor. The reference to the A34 Corridor should be removed from the following policies: CS44, CS45, CS16, CS46, CS17, CS47.

 

·      The Director of Planning and Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, be authorised to amend the introduction to Middlewich to emphasise the role of the By-Pass both strategically and locally, and to modify the wording of paragraphs 2.288 and 15.303 to be consistent in reference to the station and to alter the map figure 15.34 to show better location options for a railway station between CS54 and CS56.

 

·     Policy CS24 (Capricorn): The wording in the Local Plan Strategy relating to 20 hectares of employment land should be strengthened with a view to protecting and safeguarding its retention and delivery. Thus paragraphs 15.344, 15.345 and 15.346 should be enhanced accordingly, with the precise additional wording to be delegated to the Director of Planning and Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder.

 

·      To add wording to Policy CS61 to protect residents overlooking Little Stanneylands, Wilmslow with such wording delegated to the Director of Planning and Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder.

 

·      The Director of Planning and Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, adds clarity to Policy CS26 so it is clear that additional educational buildings related to the existing and future use of the protected open space as playing fields or school curtilage will be permitted in principle.

 

3.  That the Director of Planning and Sustainable Development be authorised (in consultation with the Portfolio Holder) to make any typographical, formatting and/or inconsequential changes to the Local Plan Strategy documents to correct any drafting errors or anomalies identified prior to the lodging of the same for consultation.

 

4.  That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Growth & Prosperity in consultation with the Cabinet Portfolio Holder, Party Group Leaders and the Chairman & Vice-Chairman of Strategic Planning Board to approve any further proposed changes to the Local Plan Strategy that may be necessary or appropriate following consultation.