It has been revealed that Macclesfield's MP has met with a housing developer who owns a contentious site in Macclesfield that could become housing, just days after a petition opposing plans was handed to Cheshire East Council.

Macclesfield MP David Rutley recently met representatives from Barratt Developments on site at Danes Moss, to discuss the South Macclesfield Development Area.

He met with Barratt as the Coalville-based firm owns a section of the site, which has outline planning permission for 950 homes.

Rutley's website explained that "This was an important opportunity to discuss the impact the development would have on this designated Local Wildlife site and vital peatland."

Campaign merchandise opposing the development pictured in Macclesfield's Scoop and Scales this month. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

Macclesfield's MP for the past 13 years recently met with Helen Lewis, Barratt's Regional Operations Director, and Helen Nyul Barratt's Group Head of Diversity at the site off Congleton Road.

Mr Rutley's team told Macclesfield Nub News in a statement: "During the meeting, discussions were had on a range of issues, such as the status of the environmental studies which have been carried out by Barratt over recent months, looking at both the peatland and the biodiversity of the site. 

"David was told that this work is still ongoing, and the results of these studies are expected in the coming months." 

The site is thought to contain hundreds of thousands of tonnes of peat, which stores carbon and prevents it from being released into the atmosphere. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

"The meeting also provided the opportunity for David to express his and local residents' strong opposition to the proposed development at Danes Moss and the need for peatland restoration to be a priority.

"However, David welcomed Barratt's willingness to engage with the local community and with local campaign groups, such as Save Danes Moss and the Cheshire Wildlife Trust."

The news comes just days after the 'SAVE DANES MOSS' group handed in their petition to Cheshire East Council, with over 7000 locals opposing the plans. 

Helen Lewis, Barratt Developments Regional Operations Director said "It was good to meet Mr Rutley and explain in detail the work we have been undertaking at Danes Moss, we will be making the results of this work public in the coming months.

Campaigners physically handed in a petition to Cheshire East HQ in Westfields last week, opposing the plans to build on the nature spot. (Image - 'SAVE DANES MOSS')

"While the principal of development on the site has been set by the outline planning permission, we recognise the concerns of local residents and as the UK's leading sustainable housebuilder with a longstanding commitment to biodiversity including through our decade long partnership with the RSPB, we are keen to continue to work and consult with the community, as we set out any proposals for the site." 

However, a simple Google search from Barratt's own website reveals that the partnership with the national bird conservation charity has only been going for nine years. Since 2014, not the full decade as suggested by the above quote.

Interestingly, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds themselves published a report that more than 8,000 planning applications in July 2021 were located within 500 metres of a site of special scientific interest (SSI). This is their partnership with Barratt.

Figures emailed to Macclesfield Nub News and verified by a local wildlife organisation suggest that 70 metres is the distance between between the SSSI boundaries and the northern part of Danes Moss where houses could be built.

A sign opposing the development during a protest in Macclesfield last year. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

On the other hand, independent Macclesfield Nub News research from Midshires Meadows development in Whaley Bridge suggests new Barratt Homes come with 'hedgehog highways' to allow a passage to wildlife through people's gardens.

However, this is no obligation of home-owners to keep these. And this discounts campaigners concerns that pets could impact wildlife, particularly cats and wild birds.

The Danes Moss site is home to animals such as the Willow Tit, the UK's fastest-declining bird by population.

Figures previously reported by Nub News and confirmed by The Guardian suggest the peat at Danes Moss is more than five metres deep in places and stores more than 220,000 tonnes of carbon, which could be released as greenhouse effect-causing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The site pictured last year. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

Speaking after the meeting, David said "I was grateful for the opportunity to meet with senior representatives from Barratt Developments at Danes Moss."

"This site is a much-valued community asset and is home to important peatland, which needs to be protected as a priority. It was important to learn that Barratt's is continuing its environmental studies and will continue to actively consult with the community.

"I continue to strongly oppose development on this peatland, like many local residents, and it is vital that their views are listened to and taken into account."

Macclesfield Nub News first article on the subject can be read HERE.

A petition opposing the developments was handed in at Cheshire East Council HQ last Thursday at 2:30pm.

See Also: Macclesfield MP David Rutley reveals intention to stand in next General Election

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