Several of our members have mentioned Finlow Farm to us recently, a relatively new development in Over Alderley. Therefore I assumed it was controversial but I was still taken aback when we were up The Edge and the view from Stormy Point has changed.
The iconic view from The Edge, which is probably the most recognised and frequently used image of Alderley Edge, previously provided uninterrupted natural views across the Cheshire Plain but these are now broken up by the view of a tennis court and outbuilding, located within the grounds of Finlow Farm.
Two retrospective planning applications connected with this development have recently been refused, relating to the entrance gates on Mottram Road and a domestic outbuilding, but, given so many applications have been submitted over the years, we are still unclear as to whether planning permission has been granted for the tennis court or not.
How did this development within the Green Belt and an area of County Value for Landscape, as designated by the Local Plan Proposals Map, slip through the net? It would appear that neither the National Trust or The Edge Association, both of whom objected to the recently refused retrospective applications, were aware of the initial plans to demolish the farmhouse.
Martin Sinker, Plans Secretary at The Edge Association, said "The original Findlow Farm (spelling as OS maps) was a 16/17th century farm workers' building and was included on Macclesfield Borough Council's "List of Locally Important Buildings" giving it protection against demolition. Inexplicably the site development was approved leading to the current two separate new properties on a vastly greater scale, in Green Belt territory.
"I do wonder whether the change in the spelling of Findlow threw people off the scent; when I started searching for planning data about a year ago it took me some time to track down Finlow. Surprisingly, the site lies within Over Alderley Parish Council territory, they seem to have been pretty low key about the whole affair. I requested an expanation for the demolition from the Cheshire East Council Planning Department but have received nothing.
"More recently the developer has sought to tidy up his planning approval situation, perhaps as the result of a planning inspection. However 10/1691M (retrospective) covering the eastern entrance gates was refused in August, and 10/2972M (retrospective) covering the very substantial outbuilding met the same fate a few days ago. We (The Edge Association) wrote to object to both of these applications. The outbuilding is given as 4.5m high and, scaling from the undimensioned drawings, appears to be around 15m by 6m in plan, bigger than many houses! There is as far as I can tell no mention of the tennis court and I am unclear about the planning situation in relation to it."
Christopher Widger, Countryside Manager at the National Trust, said "Views from the The Edge are one of the major reasons for visitors to come to Alderley Edge and the Trust's Property Management Plan (PMP) promotes opportunities to create new viewing points as well as maintaining existing ones.
"The building has a very significant adverse impact upon the openness of the Green Belt, in particular from the Trust's, open access, land at Alderley Edge - for example, its significant intrusion into views from Stormy Point, probably the most regularly visited viewpoint on the property.
"The building is also highly visible from a range of other locations which are regularly used by the public at Alderley Edge, for example the footpath that runs close to the northern boundary of the Trust's land from which there are uninterrupted views of the application site, the closest available viewpoint being about 100 metres away."
On refusing the retrospective planning application for the outbuilding the planning officer stated "An inappropriate development which by definition is harmful to the openness of the green belt and the reasons for including land in the green belt in the 1st stance.
"No very special circumstances are put forward to justify the inappropriate development. The objection from Edge Association to the principle of the incursion into the gb (Green Belt) and area of landscape value are upheld as a reason to refuse the application."
The decision notice makes reference to "the Council's formal powers of enforcement" so it will be interesting to see what happens next in regard to the outbuilding and entrance gates, but surely the tennis court could also be described "An inappropriate development which by definition is harmful to the openness of the green belt."
Speaking about the original farmhouse, which we understand was on the "List of Locally Important Buildings", Christopher Widger said " It is beyond belief that such a lovely half timber farmhouse could be demolished and it is my true belief that a planning application has not been lodged for the tennis court. Its a change of land use, from agricultural to residential and I have seen nothing in the application relating to that."
If a house on this list can be demolished then it does raise the question what was the point of the recent exercise carried out by Cheshire East to update the Local List of Historic Buildings?
As we reported last week, the Council announced that the new local list has been published to enable those buildings or structures to be closely watched and to influence the planning process in relation to them - it didn't seem to make any difference at Finlow Farm, which has interrupted the iconic view from The Edge.
I have written to the Planning Department asking about the demolition of the original farmhouse and whether planning permission has been granted for the tennis court. I will add an update once I receive a response.
Comments
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There are so many new, monstrously ugly properties in our area now, that all character and charm is being lost. Clearly, money talks.
"There has been no permission given for any tennis court at this time and any application will be looked at on its own merit. The Council would look at its impact on the green belt."
Unfortunately no explanation was given as to why the demolition of the original farmhouse was allowed, despite the fact it appeared on the "List of Locally Important Buildings".