THE planning inquiry began today (Tuesday) into the proposed 225-home Longridge development with opponents arguing much has changed since the Knutsford site was allocated for housing by Cheshire East Council.
The scheme, which includes 30 per cent affordable housing, was recommended for approval by the council’s planning officers when it went before the strategic planning board (SPB) last December.
But the SPB unanimously refused it - and applicant Dewscope appealed.
In his opening statement to today’s inquiry, Giles Cannock KC, representing Dewscope, said: “All of the housing is proposed on the allocated site, where the principle of housing development is supported by the [local] plan.
“Vehicular access cannot be taken off the site frontage for legal reasons.
“Accordingly, an access is proposed through a small piece of adjacent public open space, local green space and green belt.”
He said this additional land was needed to deliver the scheme.
“Development of this site is not inappropriate development,” he said.
But he said: “The proposed development is contrary to the development plan and national planning policy by reason of harm to the green belt, ecology, protected open space and integration with existing development on Longridge and there are no material considerations sufficient to indicate that the appeal should be allowed.”
Mr Keen said: “A large part of the site extends beyond the area of the allocation into the green belt in two locations.”
In November 2022 a majority of the site was designated as a Local Wildlife Site (LWS).
Mr Keen said: “To qualify as a LWS, a candidate site needs only to meet a single selection criteria. The Longridge LWS meets eight selection criteria.”
He said this was because of the social benefits they believed would be accrued for people living on the existing Longridge estate, which is an area of significant deprivation.
He said they believed there would be integration between the two sites.
“However, there were certain things we were not aware of at that time,” said Cllr Gardiner.
“We were not aware that it was not physically possible because of a legal covenant for direct access, vehicular or otherwise, to be afforded from Longridge into the site.
“Had we known that at the time, we would not have been supportive.”
He said the second reason was ecology and over the years re-wilding had occurred and the site had developed significantly.
Cllr Gardiner said at the time the application was considered he ‘believed there had been a significant shift in the circumstances for that site, which meant it was no longer the preferred option as to where housing should be built in the town’.
John Finnan, of Save Longridge Greenbelt, said the site ‘is now one of the most biodiverse habitats around’.
“For three generations or more the local community, in an area where there is some deprivation, has benefited greatly, both physically, emotionally and educationally from exercising in these fields and woods,” he said.
Debbie Jamison, of Knutsford Residents In Over Ward campaign group, said the development now required public land outside the appellant’s ownership and this is protected in three ways because it is public open space, green belt and local green space.
“The land has previously been in use as, and still is capable of forming, a playing field/ pitch,” she said.
She added: “The case will be made that this application represents inappropriate development and that the value of the loss of public open space/ local green space has been understated and is not proposed to be adequately replaced. The possibility of future encroachment exists.”
The inquiry is expected to last six days.
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