Appeal lodged after 325-home Cheshire housing estate plans rejected
Campaigners said they would "be fully prepared and ready" for any appeal
Sandbach residents are objecting to a proposed 325-home development (Image supplied)
Bloor Homes has lodged an appeal against Cheshire East’s refusal to grant permission for up to 325 homes in Sandbach. The developer wants to build the dwellings, which includes 30 per cent affordable homes together with a community park, on 19.28 hectares of open countryside and agricultural land between Manor Road and the A533, The Hill.
The council’s planning officers had recommended the outline application be approved when it was considered by the strategic planning board in November. But councillors voted to refuse the controversial proposal on the grounds it would result in harm to the setting of the Leonard Cheshire Home (The Hill), Oakley House and Oakley Coach House which are designated heritage assets.
According to Cheshire East Council’s website, Bloor Homes has now appealed against the decision. At the time of writing, the case has not yet been listed on the planning inspectorate’s appeals portal, so no date has yet been set for comments or a hearing.
More than 2,130 people signed a petition and about 1,100 objections were sent to the council opposing the proposal last year. And several objectors packed into the November planning meeting to see the scheme refused.
Seven councillors voted to refuse the application, one voted against refusal and three abstained. Speaking immediately after the meeting, delighted campaigners thanked local people for their hard work in helping to ‘overturn the officers’ decision’.
And they said they would be prepared for the fight if the developer goes to appeal. Sarah Bradley, of Sandbach Vs Overdevelopment, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service in November: “The application refusal may be appealed by Bloor within a six-month window, however we will be fully prepared and ready for that appeal with a seat at the table if it occurs.”
And ward councillor Sam Corcoran (Lab) said immediately after the meeting, if the developer did appeal ‘we will have to go through the battle again to win the appeal’. When the appeal is listed on the planning inspectorate’s website, details will be available at acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk
The appeal reference number is APP/R0660/W/25/3377118.