A planning application has been submitted to convert some redundant stables in the Alderley Edge Green Belt for the production of bottled spring water and vegetable juices.
Alderley Edge Trees and Shrubs have submitted the proposal for a 4.5 hectare site at Brookfield Farm off Brook Lane.
The current three stables, tack room and feed store will be replaced with a vegetable and fruit processing area, bottling area, packaging area, spring water filtration area and a staff room.
The proposed hours of operation for brewing and bottling are 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday.
The planning application can be viewed on Cheshire East Council's website by searching for planning reference 13/2735M. The deadline for submitting comments is August 14th and a decision is expected by September 5th.
Updated 24th July 4.56pm. Cheshire East Council has confirmed that this proposal is located within the Green Belt and a Design & Access Statement was not submitted withe the application.
Comments
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Some of these companies ( not for one second implying this one ) would build anything, anywhere without a thought for the people who live in the area.
Planning permission was originally granted for a stable block as this is is agricultural land. Despite the owner having 4.5 hectares of land, the siting of the stable block was made less than 10 metres from residential properties. Now a request has been made to change this very small block (approx 4x5m) into a industrial processing soft drink factory!
There are plans to employ 3 people, which most probably include two family members, so don't rush your cv's in!
The car park next to the entrance by Brook Lane bridge has plans for 16 car spaces, and I don't expect visitors to the site will want to walk the 500yds to the stable block, so that me as heavy vehicles and traffic along the track daily!
Brook Lane has a weight restriction on it so the HGV lorries will have to drive past the children's school which is already congested every morning and afternoon.
My husband has held positions in both bottled water and juice production for many years and is very knowledgeable about the machinery, noise, smells from waste and effluent that will emanate from such a site. It is not a cute cottage industry....
There will be the need for lighting, office telephones, alarms and toilets. The current planning permission does not allow electricity, security alarms and exterior lighting as it was felt unreasonable to disturb neighbours on Brook Lane if one or more of these was activated.
This ludicrous proposal has to be stopped now, because this land is agricultural not industrial and a factory in a Greenbelt residential area will deter new visitors to the area, not attract them.
Apparently, if this proposal is approved it may set a precedent for further industrialisation all along the A34 as 'ribbon development'. Bye bye green belt!!