Campaigners angry after 85 new homes bid in Stapeley approved

Campaigners fighting housing applications in Stapeley said today they were “disappointed” that an application for 85 houses off London Road was approved.

The application from Barratt David Wilson Homes is for houses and a children’s play area on green agricultural land close to the junction of London Road and Ellwood Way.

Planning officers had already recommended approval as Cheshire East Council still cannot demonstrate a five-year supply of housing land.

It means additional traffic to an already busy part of the town, and a loss of more green gap between Nantwich and Willaston.

Jane Wagg set up the Protect Nantwich and Stapeley campaign to fight three separate housing developments planned off Broad Lane in Stapeley, including 400 homes by Muller as part of Maylands Park Phase 2, 275 by Seddon homes and 75 by Nightingale Land.

She slammed Cheshire East planning officers for “pre-determination” and “undermining public confidence” in the process.

Jane added: “While the approval of the London Road application by the Strategic Planning Board is disappointing, what is far more concerning is the approach to planning it has revealed.

“Listening to the meeting, the discussion turned to the cumulative impact of this site alongside neighbouring proposals, particularly Nightingale and Maylands Park Phase 2.

“Alarmingly, the planning officer openly discussed how anticipated s106 financial contributions from these schemes might be divided—suggesting smaller sites would fund highways, while the larger Maylands site would cover broader infrastructure.

“It is highly concerning that the council appears to be strategising the allocation of infrastructure funds from applications like Maylands Phase 2, which has not even concluded its public consultation.

“This gives the distinct impression of predetermination and severely undermines public confidence in an independent, evidence-based review process.

“The council cannot have it both ways. They cannot pool the anticipated financial benefits of these developments while failing to robustly assess the severe cumulative strain they will place on local highways under NPPF 116.

“There are currently more than 200 objections on the planning portal for the Maylands Phase 2 application, the vast majority citing severe highways safety concerns.

“Residents expect decisions to be based on the reality of the local infrastructure, not just the developer-led modelling.

“We need evidence-based decision-making, not a system that treats our struggling road network as an afterthought to financial contributions.”

The meeting heard from Stapeley Parish councillor Jo Hillman that the parish council had several concerns around highways issues, including the proposed access road and pedestrian crossing.

She said: “As councillors who live near the proposed sites, we are acutely aware of the existing traffic issues.”

She added the development will lead to a loss of green gap between Stapeley and Willaston.

“Any loss is not acceptable, as it degrades the very reason for the establishment of the strategic green gap in the first instance,” she said.

Resident Andrea Jacobs, speaking on behalf of neighbouring properties, said: “We consider the proposal to be contrary to many key aspects of planning policy – loss of open countryside, agricultural land, habitat, trees and sustainability.”

She too raised concerns about highways issues.

But highways officers had not objected to the proposal and said the cumulative impact couldn’t be taken into account.

Haslington councillor Steve Edgar (Con) said once again the council was in between a rock and a hard place.

“I’ve been through the report and I can’t find any strong reason to refuse the application that won’t go straight to appeal,” he said.

“I’m just begging now for someone to give me a reason to refuse as long as it doesn’t go to appeal.”

At yesterday’s Strategic Planning Board (SPB) six councillors approved the London Road scheme, one was against, with four abstentions.