Planning officers have recommended councillors refuse an application to build three industrial units at Hawkshead Quarry at Sutton which would create more than 60 jobs.

AM Bell Properties Ltd has applied for permission to build the additional units for small scale businesses within Hawkshead Heavy Industrial and Haulage Park on Leek Old Road.

The units would be used for the processing of goods. The third building would be split into smaller units.

The planning officer's report states: "It is proposed Fruits of the Forage, a local foraging company will occupy unit one, Cheshire Cheese Company will occupy unit two and that units 3/4 are speculative intended for small to medium scale sized businesses."

The scheme would create 30 full-time and 35 part-time jobs.

But the officer adds, in a report to Wednesday's meeting of the northern planning committee: "The application site is located outside of designated settlement boundaries and is not an allocated employment site.

"The site is located in the open countryside with poor access to means of a variety of transport such as buses, cycling, walking or trains and is reliant on private vehicles such as cars and vans in which to reach it. The principle of the development is not accepted as the proposals are not identified as an exceptional form of development permitted within the open countryside."

Natural England has objected to the scheme on the basis of insufficient information, fearing it could have potential significant effects on Danes Moss Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Cheshire Wildlife Trust has objected saying: "The current proposals include tree removals within an area designated as an ancient woodland and Local Wildlife Site(LWS).

A final decision will be made later this week. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

Three letters of support have been sent from members of the public arguing the development would provide necessary enhanced warehouse space and business space for existing local employers and would keep Macclesfield and Cheshire East based businesses within the area.

One member of the public has objected.

The application has been recommended for refusal on the grounds the land is located outside of designated settlement boundaries in the open countryside and is not an allocated employment site.

The planning meeting takes place at Macclesfield Town Hall at 10am on Wednesday, December 7.

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