SUTTON PARISH COUNCIL

LOCAL PLAN UPDATE - LYME GREEN

Last chance saloon?
If you havent heard, we are now in the middle of the last major public consultation exercise into the Strategic Sites,
which Cheshire East Council (CEC) considers should be made available for housing and jobs.
The Green Belt areas around Macclesfield have been under threat from the housebuilders and landowners. This continues
to be the case at Lyme Green, where the overwhelming public views have been ignored by CEC, in preference to the
views of Bovis Homes & the major landowner, who are keen on building as many houses as possible.
The area of land proposed to be taken out of the Green Belt in the latest version of the Plan has not changed, and
includes all the land north and south of Gaw End Lane. However, CEC has reduced the housing numbers to 300 houses
to be built by 2030. But, dont be fooled, the house builders will be objecting to this figure, and will be asking CEC to
revert to the earlier figure of 800 houses.
If you are not supportive of the
removal of all this land from the
Green Belt, it is important to say so
and why?
These are some of the planning
reasons why the land should remain
in the Green Belt:
Ever since 2010, when over 97% of the
residents in the Sutton Parish Plan
Survey indicated that they did not want
changes to the Green Belt, local
residents
have
consistently
and
overwhelmingly objected to the removal
of land at Lyme Green from the Green
Belt.
The land performs most of the purposes of Green Belt. CECs own Updated Green Belt Assessment (2015) agrees with
this view, and confirms that the land makes a significant contribution to the Green Belt.

But this is only the starting point

The site is partly covered by the Macclesfield Canal Conservation Area, and the canal forms the only strong &
defensible boundary for the Green Belt in the area. The Local Plan Policy SE7 states that CEC will support development
that does not cause harm to heritage assets. 300 houses will cause irreparable harm.
The whole of the site is classified as of Local Landscape Designation Area, and the Local Plan Policy SE4 states that
CEC will seek to conserve such areas, and protect them from development. A proposal for 300 houses will destroy the
landscape character of the site.
Part of the land forms part of a Site of Biological Importance, and adjoins the Danes Moss Site of Special Scientific
Interest. Local Plan Policy SE3 states that development which is likely to have an adverse impact on such areas will not
be permitted. Why are 300 houses considered to be consistent with this policy?

Macclesfield Canal is recognised in the Local Plan as a Strategic Green Infrastructure Asset, which under Policy SE6
should be safeguarded. 300 houses will ensure that its value as an Asset will be lost for good.
The question that has to be asked of CEC is:
How did the land north and south of Gaw End Lane ever be chosen as a housing site, when according to CEC it makes a
significant contribution to the Green Belt, and just as important, it is in conflict with many of CECs own Local Plan
policies, which are meant to be protecting the environmental assets of the area?

What about the other planning issues?

There are serious highway constraints, with a narrow protected bridge, and dangerous junctions along the A 523.
Lyme Green has no community services or facilities, which is recognised in the Sustainability Appraisal, and this
makes the site unsustainable.
There are brownfield & windfall sites within the built up area of Macclesfield. CEC estimates that 500 houses will
be built on these sites over the 20 year Plan period. This represents 25 houses a year. This is in sharp contrast to the 100
houses a year built over the past 20 years. The sites are there for everyone to see.
So why, in the face of Government support for development on brownfield sites, is CEC promoting Green Belt
development on such a scale?
At Lyme Green, the Depot Site, which is owned by CEC, is a brownfield site which could be redeveloped for
housing without changing the Green Belt boundary. Housing is a use which Lyme Green residents have indicated
their support for following a survey back in 2012.
So, in summary, there are:
Objections to Policy PG3 (Site CS11) Gaw End Lane, which involves rolling back the Green Belt at Lyme Green.
And what changes are being looked for?
The deletion of Site CS11 Gaw End Lane from the Local Plan, and retention of the Green Belt boundary
along the Macclesfield Canal from the southern end of Lyme Green Business Park, to the bridge over the
canal at the A523.
The allocation of the Lyme Green Depot as a Strategic Housing Site.
Provision of an increase in housing on brownfield /windfall sites in Macclesfield from 500 to 1,000.
In addition,
Support for the retention of the boundary of the Green Belt along London Road (A523).

Where do you send your views to?

Post:

Local Plan,
Spatial Planning Team,
Cheshire East Council
Westfields
c/o Municipal Buildings
Earle Street
Crewe CW1 2BJ.

Email: localplan@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Online: via the Councils consultation

portal accessed using:
www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/localplan

If you wish, you may copy your comments to your local councillor, Hilda Gaddum at hilda.gaddum@cheshireeast.gov.uk
and to Sutton Parish Council Clerk at suttonparish@aol.com
When must your views be received by?
All views must be received by the Cheshire East Council by 5.00pm on 19th April 2016.
For an electronic version of the above points please email: suttonparish@aol.com