Campaigners 'overjoyed' as Danes Moss housing plans withdrawn
Controversial housing plans for a peatland site have been withdrawn to the delight of campaigners who told councillors they had a 'historic opportunity to do the right thing by this incredible piece of land'.
The South Macclesfield Development Area, which is next to Danes Moss Site of Special Scientific Interest, was allocated for development in the Cheshire East local plan in 2017.
In 2019, outline permission was granted for a scheme which included up to 950 houses and a new link road on the peatland site, which is jointly owned by Cheshire East Council and national housebuilder, Barratt.
On Tuesday (June 3), Cheshire East's economy and growth committee agreed the current reserved matters planning applications should be withdrawn.
Thomas Eccles, chair of environmental charity Danes Moss Trust, told the committee: "Danes Moss is an ancient, raised bog.
"It's one of the largest and deepest peatlands in Cheshire, therefore one of the biggest carbon stores in the county.
"It hosts unrivalled biodiversity for the region…
"So I'm very happy to be here today because, before you, you have a proposal to withdraw the reserve matters for the original development plans for the site.
"We're absolutely overjoyed about this."
Mr Eccles referred to the recommendations before the committee and the alternative options which would be further considered before a final decision on the site's future would be made a later meeting.
These three options were disposal, development on the site, or taking no further action.
"The one that is missing is the fourth option and that is for a full-scale restoration of the site to a natural peatland habitat with zero urban development," said Mr Eccles.
"We really hope that you will include this in your review of options… this is actually the only sustainable solution, in our opinion, for this site."
He told councillors peatlands are the biggest store of carbon on the planet's land surface, 'so in the longterm interests of the residents of Cheshire East, we cannot damage this site'.
"You've got a historic opportunity now to do the right thing by this incredible piece of land, this incredible habitat, this incredible asset," said Mr Eccles.
Macclesfield councillor Rob Vernon (Lab) moved an amendment to include 'nature-led recovery' as a fourth option to be considered for the site, and this was agreed by the committee.
Sutton councillor Chris O'Leary (Con) said: "We need to make sure that we consider openly and in consultation, all of the available options.
"I'm glad now that we have a motion that allows us to do that.
"Anybody who's ever visited Danes Moss will know what an absolutely incredibly special place it is and it is quite right that we re-set the council's plans, we consider all of the available options, and we make the right decisions for the right reasons about future of this incredibly important bogland."
Nantwich councillor Anna Burton (Lab) said: "Doing nothing really isn't an option here on this site, because the wetland peat, from my understanding, is drying out, and something needs to be done.
"So whatever the decision is, be it full-scale restoration of a natural peatland, or whatever decisions are made longterm, doing nothing isn't an option."
The council's officers, following consultation with various stakeholders including Danes Moss Trust and Cheshire Wildlife Trust, will review the alternative options for the site and bring forward a recommendation to the economy and growth committee at a future date.
The vote was nine in favour and two councillors abstained.
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