Plans to bulldoze former kennels for new homes near Shavington

Cheshire East looks set to approve plans to bulldoze buildings on the site of a former kennels at Hough near Shavington to make way for eight homes, writes Belinda Ryan.

The council’s planners are recommending the southern planning committee approves the development for land at Birchwood House on Birch Lane, despite it being in the open countryside.

If permission is granted at Wednesday’s meeting, the applicant would also have to make a contribution of £303,743 towards the provision of three off-site affordable homes.

This is because the total gross floorspace of the dwellings is more than 1,000sqm.

A report from council planners to this week’s committee meeting states: “The proposal is considered to be sustainably located, but despite this the proposal conflicts with the development plan as a whole.”

But it points out Cheshire East does not have a five-year housing land supply and the development would contribute towards meeting this need and provide a contribution towards affordable housing.

It adds: “Small and medium sized sites can make an important contribution and be built out very quickly.

“There would also be economic benefits through the construction and occupation of the proposed development.

“Social benefits would also be provided in terms of the proposed affordable housing provision.”

The application site comprises a small parcel of land which relates to a wider site which was a former boarding kennels.

It previously housed the existing dwelling and its garage and outbuildings.

Three houses have already been built and are occupied on the parcel of land to the south-west.

The parcel of the land to south-east has also secured planning approval and five dwellings have now been constructed on this site.

The current application site is the remaining area of land that was associated with the former boarding kennels.

Four residents have objected to the proposal.

Among the objections are claims the site was to be retained as an ecological area as part of the approved developments to south and east.

They also say the proposal represents over-development and is out of character with the area.

The southern planning committee meeting takes place at 10am on Wednesday, June 3 at Delamere House in Crewe.