Congleton: 119-home development recommended for approval

Anwyl Homes wants to build the properties on land north of the Congleton Link Road at Somerford Green.

Outline permission for the development was granted in 2018.

The council’s strategic planning board will next week be considering the reserved matters application, which deals with the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of the scheme.

The meeting will take place at Macclesfield Town Hall (Image: Google)

The application relates to a site accessed off the Radnor Roundabout, opposite Back Lane.

The land is part of a much larger site and essentially forms the last housing element of this allocation.

Mostly completed developments by Stewart Milne Homes, David Wilson/ Barratt Homes, Bellway, Seddon and Miller Homes make up the rest.

The commercial elements of the site remain undeveloped.

Cheshire East’s highways department has raised concerns about the accessibility of the site saying ‘a much safer pedestrian and cycle connection is required given the level and type of development proposed’.

The report states: “It is proposed that the S106 agreement is varied so some of the Congleton Link Road contribution is used to provide a formal crossing point on the Congleton Link Road.”

The lead local flood authority has requested clarification on a number of points and councillors will be updated on the progress of discussions at Wednesday’s meeting.

Somerford Parish Council says it is disappointed its main concerns have not been adequately addressed, ‘which means there are still serious deficiencies in the plans’.

It includes among these, parking provision and the location and isolation of the play space at the very edge of the site.

It also states: “[There are] no four-bed properties provided for social housing, which are needed.”

Eight other objections have been raised by residents.

Among these are concerns about inadequate boundary treatment on the western side, claims two-and-a-half-storey houses are inappropriate in this location and will lead to overlooking and privacy problems and concerns about impacts on wildlife.

The application is for 98 open market houses.

These will comprise 10 two-bed homes, 33 three-bed and 55 four-bed houses.

There will be 21 affordable homes and these will be made up of 10 one-bedroomed properties, seven two-bed and four three-bed houses.

The report from the planning officer states: “The council’s urban design officer has just commented on the latest proposals and, whilst not raising any significant issues, still feels further improvements could be made, which the applicant is looking at.

"Members will be updated on any proposed changes.”

The application has been recommended for approval subject to a deed of variation to the original S106 agreement and conditions.

The strategic planning board meeting takes place at 10am on Wednesday, July 24, at Macclesfield Town Hall.