Cheshire East has approved in principle a controversial two-home scheme for Macclesfield despite the planning meeting starting before the time for comments from the public had closed.

Knutsford councillor Tony Dean (Conservative) asked if it was legal to make a decision as the northern planning committee started discussing the application for the John Street car park on Wednesday morning (December 8).

Members of the public could make representations until 12 noon that day.

He was assured by planning officer Paul Wakefield it was as the recommendation was 'to delegate back [to the chair and head of planning] to approve, to allow those additional comments to filter through'.

The application for the two semi-detached homes is on a site which has been used for numerous years by High Street residents as a car park and for bin storage.

Macclesfield Central ward councillor Ashley Farrall (Labour), speaking as a visiting councillor, said: "This application came to committee last month and was recommended for refusal."

He said that was on the grounds the separation distance was only 10.3m.

"The application today has been recommended for approval, but a separation distance of 10.5m [is] still way below the distance stated in the policy," he said.

"Now, added to this, the fact that residents' deeds show there is private right of way access from what is known as the common yard leading to the car park sites"

Cllr Brian Puddicombe, (Macclesfield South, Lab) told the committee: "You'll note that on the application it's stated as John Street car park with the emphasis on car park.

"This was a car park for 39-49 High Street."

He said some of those houses had been rented and it stated in the commercial advert that there was parking available on that site.

The site has now been fenced off.

With regard to the separation distance, Cllr Puddicombe said: "If 14 metres is the minimum recommended distance, then residents of 39-49 High Street are surely entitled to this."

Macclesfield Town councillor Fiona Wilson (Labour), who is Puddicombe's partner, asked what had changed so significantly in the application that officers had recommended it be refused last month and now approved.

"The development site is still at a higher elevation than the existing properties on High Street so it will still be unduly dominant on the current outlook of the existing properties," said Macclesfield's Deputy Mayor.

"The separation distance at 10.5m is still significantly lower than the required 14m.

"Residents on High Street are still losing that car parking and bin storage.

"They've been using the site referred to in this application as John Street car park to park their cars and store their bins for 36 years."

The planning officer said it is a very tightly packed, terraced street environment and some properties didn't have a 14m separation distance.

With regard to the issues relating to parking, bin storage and right of access he said these were civil matters, not planning concerns, and would have to be dealt with as a separate matter.

Crewe councillor Anthony Critchley (Lab) again raised concerns about a decision being made before the closing time for comments had passed.

"We can't make a proper decision today because we haven't had all the information because the information will take two or three days to go online," he said.

High Legh councillor Kate Parkinson (Con) agreed with him.

Mr Wakefield said: "Potentially, if we defer it,again, the applicant's got a right of appeal against non-determination in which case it gets taken out of our hands anyway."

The application was approved with the condition it is delegated back to officers in consultation with the chair to consider any late representations submitted.

The vote was six in favour, three against 3 and one councillor abstained.

The target approval date was today.

You can view the planning documents here.

Macclesfield: What do you make of the plans on the Macclesfield residential street for more housing?

We last reported on the development during November 3 2021.

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