Plans to convert a countryside garage and workshop into tourist accommodation look set to be refused amid claims the existing building does not conform with the planning permission granted in 2017.

Mike Eardley has applied to Cheshire East Council for permission to convert the building at Higher Kinderfields Farm, Sutton into five holiday units.

But Cheshire East's planning officer says the building currently constructed on site does not conform with the 2017 planning permission the council granted for a garage and store – a matter disputed by the applicant.

In a report to Wednesday's (December 7) meeting of the northern planning committee, the council's planning officer states planning permission was granted for the demolition of a garage and its 'replacement with a garage' in a similar location in October 2017.

The vote will be made at Macclesfield Town Hall on Market Place later this week. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

The garage was granted permission on the basis it would be used for some domestic storage, but also to accommodate an agricultural engineering vehicle associated with the applicant's agricultural business.

The officer states: "It is considered that the building that has been constructed on site is materially different to the 2017 planning permission for a 'replacement garage and store'."

He said therefore the application to change the use of the garage for tourist accommodation does not meet the planning policy requirement for the re-use of existing rural buildings 'as no existing building exists that can actually take advantage of this exception'.

The officer adds: "Permission is required for the building that has been constructed, and a new application would be needed for this. The applicant therefore needs to secure planning permission for the structure and hard-standing areas as built before any change of use can be considered. Alternatively, a new application for purpose-built holiday accommodation and associated areas of hard-standing would be required."

In the report the applicant says the current building is not a change of the 2017 approval.

He says the 2017 building has been constructed to the approved dimensions and on the correct alignment and that it conforms to the size and location of the approval of five years ago.

The application has been 'called in' to the planning committee by Sutton councillor Andrew Gregory (Ind) who described it as 'an unwelcome development in what is an area of outstanding natural beauty'.

He raised a number of concerns including the increase in traffic along Hollin Lane, the design of the buildings and said the development is 'unneighbourly' due to its close proximity to the building next to it.

Sutton Parish Council has also objected to the scheme.

The application has been recommended for refusal on the grounds the existing building  does not conform with the 2017 planning permission and it would have an adverse impact upon the residential amenity of Kinderfields Edge and of Higher Kinderfields Farmhouse.

The latest plans were submitted in June 2021.

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

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