Plans to replace rural buildings at a farm in Sutton with tourist units have been recommended for refusal.

Mike Eardly applied to Cheshire East Council for permission for five accessible tourist units at Higher Kinderfields Farm off Hollin Lane, in June 2021.

11 months later, it seems like his plans will not go ahead.

The proposal relates to a former outbuilding/garage at the back of the main farmhouse.

Mr Eardly kept his planning application local, hiring Lyme Green company Bower Mattin Partnership to design the plans. (Image - Bower Mattin)

The application has been referred to the northern planning committee by ward councillor Andrew Gregory

The Independent Group councillor said, in his call-in letter: "The development is in an area of open countryside within the Peak Park Fringe and is considered to be 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 and the design of the building which, he said, is not in keeping with the locality.

The Sutton councillor also said there is no evidence there is a need for additional tourism in the area.

Cllr Andrew Gregory has represented Sutton since May 2019. (Image - Cheshire East Council)

Sutton Parish Council has also objected to the application.

It argues the proposal is for a significant change to the current use of the building, which only four years ago was granted planning permission to be a workshop/garage.

The parish council also listed a number of other objections including design, appearance and materials, visual amenity and traffic generation.

Objections have also been received from five local residents.

A final desicion will be made at Macclesfield Town Hall on Wednesday, for which the public are welcome to attend. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

Andrew Ellis Planning Consultants Ltd, representing four local residents, said: "The construction of new build holiday accommodation is a flagrant and deliberate breach of planning control."

Cheshire East's planning officer has recommended the scheme be refused on the grounds it would detract from the rural character and appearance of the area and because insufficient information has been submitted to assess adequately the impact it would have on residential amenity.

In the report due to go before Wednesday's meeting of the northern planning committee, the officer states: "The application proposals, as currently designed, would have an adverse impact on the appearance of the countryside. This is because the introduction of a building used for tourism, would markedly change the character and appearance of the site from one that is at present quite typical of countryside to one that is overtly residential in nature."

He adds: "Further harm, albeit minor, would be caused to the appearance of the countryside, as the previous building, whilst in poor condition, was essentially rural in nature and quite unobtrusive in the landscape, due to its simple design, external materials, and low eaves. In contrast, the proposed building would, by virtue of the insertion of large amount of glazing within the building, result in it being more prominent."

The meeting takes place at Macclesfield Town Hall at 10am on Wednesday, July 13.

You can read more about the planning application here.

Cllr Gregory was speaking just days after he quit as a Conservative councillor, for which you can read more about in the Macclesfield Nub News article below.

See Also: Sutton councillor quits Conservatives shortly before Sunak and Javid resignations

Macclesfield: Most planning applications taking up to half-a-year to process

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