Plans to build 12 affordable apartments on the 'last area of green space' on a Macclesfield housing estate have been approved on the casting vote of the planning committee chairman.

Copperleaf Group Ltd applied to Cheshire East Council to build the homes on protected open space off Moss Lane.

Ward councillor Brian Puddicombe (Lab), speaking as a visiting member, told Wednesday's (March 4) meeting of the northern planning committee: "This is the last area of green space [off Moss Lane], and many local residents have contacted us regarding the need to keep this green lung."

He said he was 'amazed' highways hadn't objected because Moss Lane was at capacity.

And he told the committee: "There is a strong history of existing drainage, flooding and water management on this land."

Highways officer Neil Jones agreed with Cllr Puddicombe.

"We have got congestion issues, certainly at the junction of Moss Lane and certainly at the Flowerpot junction," he said.

"But we have to look at the actual application and the impact it has.

advertisement

"Now this application is only very small in highway terms… we would never be able to show a severe impact on this level of generation."

Ward councillor Fiona Wilson (Lab) raised concerns about highways and drainage problems – but because the application was only in outline form, drainage could not be considered.

Only the principle of development and access could be considered.

Cllr Sarah Bennett-Wake (Macclesfield, Lab) said: "Whilst I welcome the opportunity for some social housing or something that's affordable for local people, I don't really quite understand why someone would basically want to build on a bog."

She added: "I just think that, with outline planning applications, there's just not enough detail and not enough proper surveys being done to make a reasonable judgement on it and I just find it again, wasting our time."

Knutsford councillor Tony Dean (Con) said members from all parties had agreed more affordable housing is needed in Cheshire East.

"I can't see a reason to refuse this, because it would produce what we all have said, in the past, we need," said Cllr Dean.

But Cllr Wilson said: "I still have overriding concerns about the highways issues, so I'm going to move that we refuse this application."

advertisement

She moved refusal on the grounds no travel plan was prepared or survey done of the volume of traffic on Moss Lane, in relation to highway safety and access.

The vote, which was tied at five for refusal and five against, was lost when committee chair Mick Warren (Macclesfield, Ind) used his casting vote against refusal.

Cllr Dean then proposed approval, as per the planning officer's recommendation.

The vote was the same – five in favour and favour against – and Cllr Warren used his casting vote to approve it.