Cheshire East Council has admitted that it did not submit a statement within the required timeframe during an appeal over a car wash planning application because of an administrative error.
As reported last week, Cheshire East Council lost an appeal against their refusal to grant planning permission for the change in use of a former petrol filling station to a hand car wash and valet business.
Shines appealed to the Planning Inspectorate over the committee's refusal of their plans at the site of the former Kings Arms Service Station on Alderley Road in Wilmslow.
As well as winning their appeal, the company was awarded full costs because the Council failed to submit a statement in support of its reasons for refusing planning permission within the given timescales. The Planning Inspectorate said that this failure amounted to "unreasonable behaviour on the Council's part" which resulted in "the appellant incurring unnecessary and wasted expenditure".
Councillor Ainsley Arnold, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for housing, planning and regeneration, said: "The council regrets that due to an administrative error that a statement was not submitted within the required timeframe.
"A statement was submitted late but rejected by the inspectorate, although the appeal inspector was fully aware of the reasons for refusal by the council.
"After visiting the site and considering objections from local residents, the inspector did not feel that the car wash would be out of character with the surrounding area and would not have a significant impact on highway safety. The appeal was therefore allowed.
"It is not known at this time how much the council will have to pay in costs."
