Leader Seeks Legal Advice Over Abbey Fields

February 13, 2013

Cheshire East Council Leader Michael Jones is seeking legal advice over the latest blow to Sandbach after the Government’s planning inspector overturned a decision on unsustainable development.

The Council turned down plans for 280 dwellings on land off Abbey Road and Middlewich Road in Sandbach. But on appeal, the Government’s planning inspector upheld the case made by Fox Strategic Land and Property.

The Leader has now written to the Government to express his disappointment and dismay on behalf of Sandbach residents. He said: “We will be looking at all our options to try and put forward a robust case and persuade the Government that this development is surplus to requirements and not what the people of Sandbach want.”

The blow comes at a time when the Council is making rapid progress with its Local Plan and has just approved its five year housing land supply (Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment). This should act as a defence against speculative developers.

Also a finalised Local Plan document should be sent for approval to the Government in summer. Cheshire East is one of many local authorities without a Local Plan in place following unsupported Local Government Reorganisation prior to 2009. The Council is currently consulting on the Development Strategy for the Borough, which is a robust, jobs-led strategy to deliver targeted and sustainable development in Cheshire East.

It will deliver 27,000 new houses and 20,000 new jobs and the infrastructure needed to make this happen, ensuring that Cheshire East remains an economic powerhouse of the North West as identified by the recent HS2 announcement and a beautiful place to live.