Post by lizhunt on Sept 21, 2013 9:33:30 GMT
'Newsletter' from Sam:
When I was elected to Cheshire East Council I decided that I didn’t want to get involved with planning issues..… then the government introduced new rules to try and boost the economy by allowing housing on greenfield sites. Local authorities can reject housing applications if the sites are not in the Local Plan, but Cheshire East Council doesn’t have a Local Plan, so developer’s can build almost wherever they like at the moment. However, Cheshire East Council is now working on a Local Plan and has just published the latest stage, known as the Core Strategy at moderngov.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ecminutes/mgAi.aspx?ID=21300#mgDocuments
The critical point for Sandbach is on page 24 of the first document which says
Currently Proposed Core Strategy Sites in Sandbach
Land adjacent to Junction 17 of M6, south east of Congleton Road(Capricorn)
20ha of employment land, hotel, at least 200 new homes, retention and strengthening of wildlife corridor, allotments, new local centre (including primary school), open space, improved pedestrian and cycle links. Initial phases will necessitate improved access whilst development of the entire site will be dependent on the prior delivery of improvements to Junction 17 of the M6.
The good news is that the number of houses has been reduced from 700 to 200. The bad news is that the entire site is designated as 'mixed use'. There is no area set aside specifically for employment. The last 'mixed use' site in Sandbach was on the Fodens site in Elworth - it is now 100% housing with no employment. I will be arguing strongly that the area bounded by the M6, Old Mill Road and the wildlife corridor should be designated as 'employment only'.
I also have serious concerns over the following points
the wording says at least 200 new homes. This suggests that the number could be much higher and could be back to the original 700. It beggars belief that after all the time and effort that should have been put into the Local Plan, the planners still do not have any concrete proposals for this site in Sandbach
the proposals are for a new local centre (including primary school). Sandbach does desperately need a new primary school, but NOT on Sandbach Heath. A new primary school should be built in Ettiley Heath to cater for all the new houses on the Fodens site. At present Cheshire East Council pays £20,000 a year for school bus to take pupils from Ettiley Heath to Wheelock. St John's, Sandbach Heath is a good school. What would happen to St John's if a new school were built on Sandbach Heath?
the wording says that development of the entire site will be dependent on the prior delivery of improvement to J17. This suggests that most of the site could be developed without J17 improvements
the area bounded by the M6, Old Mill Road and the wildlife corridor should be designated as 'employment only'. I know I have mentioned this point before, but it is so important to the future of Sandbach that it is worth saying twice.
The Core Strategy will be debated at the Strategic Planning Board on Thursday 26 September at Crewe Alexandra football club, starting at 10.30am. Please email your comments to the Chair of the Strategic Planning Board harold.davenport@cheshireeast.gov.uk copied to the Cabinet Member responsible david.brown@cheshireeast.gov.uk and me at sam.corcoran@cheshireeast.gov.uk
For more information please go to www.ncla.co.uk/capricorn
When I was elected to Cheshire East Council I decided that I didn’t want to get involved with planning issues..… then the government introduced new rules to try and boost the economy by allowing housing on greenfield sites. Local authorities can reject housing applications if the sites are not in the Local Plan, but Cheshire East Council doesn’t have a Local Plan, so developer’s can build almost wherever they like at the moment. However, Cheshire East Council is now working on a Local Plan and has just published the latest stage, known as the Core Strategy at moderngov.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ecminutes/mgAi.aspx?ID=21300#mgDocuments
The critical point for Sandbach is on page 24 of the first document which says
Currently Proposed Core Strategy Sites in Sandbach
Land adjacent to Junction 17 of M6, south east of Congleton Road(Capricorn)
20ha of employment land, hotel, at least 200 new homes, retention and strengthening of wildlife corridor, allotments, new local centre (including primary school), open space, improved pedestrian and cycle links. Initial phases will necessitate improved access whilst development of the entire site will be dependent on the prior delivery of improvements to Junction 17 of the M6.
The good news is that the number of houses has been reduced from 700 to 200. The bad news is that the entire site is designated as 'mixed use'. There is no area set aside specifically for employment. The last 'mixed use' site in Sandbach was on the Fodens site in Elworth - it is now 100% housing with no employment. I will be arguing strongly that the area bounded by the M6, Old Mill Road and the wildlife corridor should be designated as 'employment only'.
I also have serious concerns over the following points
the wording says at least 200 new homes. This suggests that the number could be much higher and could be back to the original 700. It beggars belief that after all the time and effort that should have been put into the Local Plan, the planners still do not have any concrete proposals for this site in Sandbach
the proposals are for a new local centre (including primary school). Sandbach does desperately need a new primary school, but NOT on Sandbach Heath. A new primary school should be built in Ettiley Heath to cater for all the new houses on the Fodens site. At present Cheshire East Council pays £20,000 a year for school bus to take pupils from Ettiley Heath to Wheelock. St John's, Sandbach Heath is a good school. What would happen to St John's if a new school were built on Sandbach Heath?
the wording says that development of the entire site will be dependent on the prior delivery of improvement to J17. This suggests that most of the site could be developed without J17 improvements
the area bounded by the M6, Old Mill Road and the wildlife corridor should be designated as 'employment only'. I know I have mentioned this point before, but it is so important to the future of Sandbach that it is worth saying twice.
The Core Strategy will be debated at the Strategic Planning Board on Thursday 26 September at Crewe Alexandra football club, starting at 10.30am. Please email your comments to the Chair of the Strategic Planning Board harold.davenport@cheshireeast.gov.uk copied to the Cabinet Member responsible david.brown@cheshireeast.gov.uk and me at sam.corcoran@cheshireeast.gov.uk
For more information please go to www.ncla.co.uk/capricorn