Campaigners who fought to stop the controversial Muller development in Stapeley have called it a “sad day”.
Muller has been granted planning permission by the Secretary of State for the first phase of it’s 1,000-home “Nantwich South” scheme on land between Peter de Stapleigh Way, Audlem Road and the A51 London Road.
Pat Cullen, who runs Protect Stapeley group, said it was a “strange” decision by the Government.
It could bring to an end an 8-year battle by campaigners, local parish and borough councillors and former Conservative MP Edward Timpson to prevent the development they viewed as “unsustainable” in terms of services and infrastructure.
Previous Secretary of States had refused Muller’s appeal but the developer had quashed that decision in a judicial review.
Pat said: “It’s a sad day for Nantwich countryside as yet more of our precious green fields will be gobbled up by housing development.
“As more and more evidence emerges about the serious effects of air pollution, especially on young children, it seems strange that the Government has granted permission for more houses to be built, together with the associated traffic pollution they will generate, within 100 yards of Pear Tree Primary School.
“Between 1990 and 2015, the UK has lost 1.9 million acres of grassland – that’s an area the size of the counties of Suffolk and Sussex combined.
“It’s a pity that Nantwich has to add a little more lost grassland to that total.
“My fear is that Muller Property will now go ahead with the plans they published in 2012 for the building of a total of 1,000 houses on Maylands Farm.
“This will cover all the green fields from Peter de Stapleigh Way/Bishops Wood, south along the A529 Broad Lane to the bridleway known as Deadman’s Lane, thus covering all the green fields between London Road and Broad Lane.”
Cllr Matthew Theobald, chair of Stapeley Parish Council, said: “With the stroke of a pen, our community’s voice has been silenced by a Secretary of State who is reported to be mired in planning controversy on the national stage.
“Sadly, we’re now seeing the results of the government’s flimsy and insubstantial “build build build” announcement.
“The evidence points to government riding roughshod over our communities, in favour of political dogma. So much for localism and community decision making.
“I am extremely saddened by this government’s decision to drive a bulldozer through the concerns, desires and aspirations of everyone in our community, and for what end?
“This is not what our community said we wanted.
“This was not what our young people, families, and older people said they needed, to build a life in Nantwich.
“Now that it is clear the development will go ahead, I call upon the MP for Crewe and Nantwich step across party lines and join us in pushing for sustainable infrastructure and services to support our community.
“I’d like to give my heartfelt thanks to everyone who was involved in the 8 year campaign to stop this unwarranted, unsustainable development.”
Cllr Peter Groves, for Nantwich South and Stapeley on Cheshire East, said: “This is a very disappointing decision given the efforts of all those objectors over the last eight years.
“This will simply put greater pressure on the existing services and the highways are already struggling to cope at the current time.
“We have a Local Plan, we have a housing supply, we have a Stapeley Neighbourhood Plan, and we’ve fought this development since 2012.
“The number of appeals and planning meetings we’ve been too and the effort people have made, that’s what disappoints me. We could not have done any more.”
Fellow Nantwich South and Stapeley Cllr Andrew Martin added: “As local councillors we have been opposed to this application from the start.
“It is clearly a very disappointing decision for our local area.
“We will liaise with the Planning department as to what action can be taken.”
A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council said: “The council is clearly disappointed that the appeal has been allowed but will need to give careful consideration to the secretary of state’s decision. No further comment will be made at this time.”
We contacted Muller Property and await a reply.
It is such a shame that towns like ours are set to be spoilt by over development. I have no issue with the type of housing as I’m sure it will be the usual ‘mixed’ development with expensive houses at the front hiding the social housing at the back. The usual. But it’s always the infrastructure that has to catch up. You can’t get a place at Brine Leas unless you can throw a tennis ball at it from your front door and a doctor’s appointment is almost impossible. Build the infrastructure first, then people will welcome more housing. Makes sense to me.
The historic and quaint town centre is not affected by any new housing estates because they are all well away from the town centre. The beautiful part of Nantwich that visitors see is not affected
Nantwich was always a lovely village. It is however now a building plot and whatever charm it had , is now long gone.
Time also to leave the area as traffic is already impossible, as is booking a doctor’s appointment.
Village? How old are you? It’s always been a town.
All those complaining are probably from the previous new builds at Stapeley. Talk about Nimbys
a reason for it 1100 new houses in nantwich and other housing developments in crewe and nantwich hs2 hub station in crewe by 2033
None of the new builds will have a grain of imagination, I hope they take on board we do not want more four bed trad detached with the usual reception rooms only fit for a family.
We need more affordable builds, bungalows, homes for those now working from home, home for couples and dogs and no children, homes for disabled, homes for singles, homes for two generations to live in not more and more identical pastiche Georgian same style for twenty years designs.
More open spaces and communal areas to gather and less front gardens that mostly look tatty bland and dull.
Time to leave the area for me, as this is no longer a lovely town to live in now.