Dobbies have withdrawn their planning application to build a controversial gardening superstore on a 17 acre site in Nether Alderley.
Dobbies Garden World application, reference 09/3109M, which was submitted on September 28th 2009, was scheduled to be discussed at the Strategic Planning Board Meeting on 5th January but was withdrawn by their agent GVA Grimley Ltd last week.
Plans for the gardening superstore on Green Belt land incorporated a restaurant and farm foodhall, with ancillary works including car parking, access, a "Greenhouse" Horticultural Interpretation Centre, outdoor display areas and landscaping.
Crucial to the application though was the fact that Dobbies sought to draw on the approved planning permission, granted on March 9th 2005, for the relocation of the original Matthews Garden Centre and transfer this consent to another site down the road. Dobbies plans were therefore hit by complications when, in October, the Strategic Planning Board refused an extension to the original planning permission which had expired. The extension was refused on the grounds that there had been a change in circumstances, insufficient information had been provided regarding the mitigation of the Great Crested Newts, which are a protected species, and the lack of a satisfactory S106 Agreement.
Prior to submitting their planning application a pre-planning consultation process was undertaken by Dobbies which involved distributing questionnaires to 2800 properties in the local area, and holding two public exhibitions at Nether Alderley Parish Hall and Alderley Edge Cricket Club. A total of 235 completed questionnaires were returned, 76% of respondents were against the proposals, whilst 23% were in favour of bringing a Dobbies Garden World to Nether Alderley, only one respondent held a neutral view.
Green Belt campaigner, Rodney Hamer and fellow objectors united to form the Stop Dobbies Campaign and made their presence felt at both public events in May 2009 requesting that people sign up to their 'Save our Green Belt Land' petition. In total they collected 970 signatures and raised awareness through posters, car stickers and a leaflet drop throughout Alderley Edge and Wilmslow.
Following the consultation, Dobbies made changes to their original plans which included; a reduction in size by 30%, enhanced landscape proposals, a new curved roof with a reduced eaves height and the distance between the proposed Dobbies and the nearest residential property to the south had been increased. But this was not enough to alleviate the concerns of local campaigners and residents, nearly 500 of whom wrote letters of objections expressing concerns that the retail development was totally inappropriate on Green Belt land, would undermine the benefit of the bypass to alleviate congestion and set a precedent for further development along the bypass.
Last month a document opposing approval of Dobbies' planning application was issued to the Chief Planning Officer at Cheshire East Council on behalf of The Alderley Rural Protection Organisation. It provided 12 detailed reasons why the application should not be approved. The final reason being that "The proposed development is not wanted in the area, it has virtually no support. Well over 900 residents have signed a petition opposing it, 75% of residents attending local pre application consultation meetings held by the applicants opposed the development then and still do, hundreds of individual letters expressing opposition have been sent to the Council, and the application is also opposed by all seven surrounding Parish Councils of Nether Alderley, Alderley Edge, Chelford, Marton, Siddington, Henbury, Chorley, and by the Alderley Edge Association, Alderley Edge, Wilmslow & District Footpath Preservation Society, Nether Alderley Rural Protection Association, Birtles Hall Residents, and the Henbury Society."
Martin Sinker, Plans Secretary at The Edge Association, said "The Edge Association, along with the Alderley Rural Protection Organisation, a number of local Parish Councils and many hundreds of individual objectors who have written formal letters or signed the petition, will be absolutely delighted at this news, a splendid Christmas present. However caution and vigilance will be needed as the project is most unlikely to have been dropped by the applicants and may well reappear in a new format."
Unfortunately Dobbies were not available for comment over the Christmas period but hopefully we will receive a response from them shortly.
I did contact Stuart Wright, Property Director at Dobbies Garden Centres, when the Strategic Planning Board refused an extension to the original S E Matthews planning permission back in October. At the time he told me "Our application has been and continues to be complex in relation to the planning for our Frog Lane proposal. We are currently assessing the Council's decision on the Matthews site and will have further dialogue with the Council in due course."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Let us leave Alderley as a village and not an extension for super stores.
I don't see this as 100 jobs lost, more 100 jobs retained and not transferred from other local businesses.
Stuart Wright, property director at Dobbies, said: "This has been a complicated application often slowed by misinformation.
"But it is best at this stage to withdraw the application, take a look at the issues and consider the best way forward.
"We've been working with local authorities across the UK to create sustainable developments which generate economic benefits through 120 jobs and £8m of investment.
"We hope our discussions with CEC can unlock a scheme that can be accepted as having significant benefits to the wider community, beyond just Nether Alderley."