Appeal over housing plans on land donated to RSPCA dismissed

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An appeal to enable six houses to be built on a vacant plot of land off Heyes Lane has been dismissed.

Deanbank Investments were refused planning permission in November 2020 to build two rows of three houses on land left to the RSPCA by a wild life enthusiast.

Each house would have 4 bedrooms, one of which will be located in the loft space, and two parking spaces.

The main issues raised were the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area and the effect on pedestrian safety.

The Planning Inspectorate dismissed the appeal concluding "Although the development would not present a risk to pedestrian safety, it would harm the character and appearance of the area. It is considered that the proposal would conflict with the development plan taken as a whole and the material considerations above do not indicate the decision should be made other than in accordance with the development plan."

Cllr Craig Browne said "This result is a clear vindication of the decision made at Cheshire East Council's Northern Planning Committee in November 2020. More importantly however, it is the first appeal to be considered since the Alderley Edge Neighbourhood Plan was overwhelmingly approved at referendum by the local community.

"The Appeal Inspector has clearly assigned significant weight to the wishes of local residents, democratically expressed through the Neighbourhood Plan and Policy AE3 (Sustainable Housing Design) in particular. The Neighbourhood Plan is not intended as a silver bullet to all development, but it is there to help provide an extra layer of protection against inappropriate development. I hope all applicants seeking to bring forward development proposals within our village will be mindful of this."

Deanbank Investments were previously refused planning permission in November 2018 to build a row of 8 three-bedroomed terraced houses along with 25 car parking spaces on the land off Heyes Lane.

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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

David Carey
Friday 18th June 2021 at 9:39 am
Lets start by saying this is a result for 'common sense', the houses would have been totally out of character with everything surrounding the area. Have to disagree slightly with the fact it wasnt deemed a risk to pedestrian safety as it clearly would have be been, but the main outcome is correct, Our Neighbourhood Plan approved by the local community is there to help out to stop developers wanting to totally disregard what 'local people want'.
I would like to personally thank everybody involved in this and by that I mean our local councillors our local residents and everyone who took the time out to appeal this planning application through all the stages of appeal, so well done everybody!
Diana Bullock
Friday 18th June 2021 at 4:18 pm
Brilliant news.
Martin Sinker
Saturday 19th June 2021 at 10:20 am
What a splendid opportunity for the current owners of the site to write off the relatively modest amount paid to the RSPCA in buying it (surely the PR budget will run to this) and set it up as a permanent green space, preferably with brambles and undergrowth as before. This simple gesture would be some compensation for the sorely tried locals in the surrounding Belmont area and would win a measure of credit in Alderley Edge as a whole. It would also treat the RSPCA's original decision to sell with the contempt it deserves, and would fulfill the wishes of the original donor. Everybody wins.
Debbie Scott
Saturday 19th June 2021 at 11:02 am
Fantastic news! A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to oppose this application.
David Carey
Sunday 20th June 2021 at 8:09 am
Great suggestion Martin. It was I originally supposed to be an area for wildlife to flourish, and as you said it would treat the RSPCA original decision to sell it with appropriate contempt. I would like to hope the owners of the site make the decision to gracefully accept the decision and turn it into a green space and this would as you say win them some credit.
Andy Brown
Sunday 20th June 2021 at 9:01 am
So let me get this right. The RSPCA were left this land via a will. Then the RSPCA sold it to a developer??
Alan Brough
Sunday 20th June 2021 at 11:34 am
Excellent suggestion Martin - a real opportunity for Emerson Holdings to do right by the people of AE and be clearly seen to do so.
As you say, the actions of the RSPCA in all of this have been contemptible.
David Carey
Sunday 20th June 2021 at 4:36 pm
Yes Andy they were left the land in a will so it could be used for wildlife but they ignored that and sold it to a developer instead. I wont say anything else as I dont want to be sued for libel.
Tony Haluradivth
Tuesday 22nd June 2021 at 3:07 pm
Very well said Martin :))
Duncan Herald
Wednesday 23rd June 2021 at 10:12 am
Do we expect an up-to-date response from the RSPCA?
Should I not hold my breath?
Jon Williams
Wednesday 23rd June 2021 at 11:08 am
Maybe the land owner should have left the house to The Wildlife Trust instead of the RSPCA as they don't want land just money.
Eric Rowland
Wednesday 23rd June 2021 at 1:38 pm
In the light of what has previously transpired, this is a just and satisfying outcome. I am overcome by strong feelings of Schadenfreude. By the way, don't forget that the RSPCA were also left the donor's house, in addition to the land. Greed has no boundaries.
David Carey
Thursday 24th June 2021 at 7:48 am
Lets all feel sad that Deanbank Investments shall we that they didnt manage to build houses on land which should have been used for wildlife in the first place. Oh hang on after second thoughts, according to the Sunday Times Rich list 2021 they are listed as having £1.157billion in the bank so perhaps not such a big problem after all.
Jayne Bowers-Haslam
Thursday 24th June 2021 at 8:40 am
Yes Eric, I too have strong feelings of Schadenfreude.
My heart particularly goes out to the residents who live around the then proposed building site. They have worked tirelessly to object to these overwhelming plans, spending their own money to seek expert advice. They lived in fear of their gardens being flooded due to the lower aspect of their land and the value of their homes decreasing by these terrible eyesores.
As you read above they gained massive support from other residents who would also have been affected should the plans come to fruition. It is a lesson for us all, that it is not always possible to get what you want, even if you have much money and power to bamboozle the powers of be with.
Alan Brough
Thursday 24th June 2021 at 9:40 pm
Jayne Bowers-Hassan,

Regrettably, “The Powers” around here are easily bamboozled.

Best stay wide awake because they’ll come knocking again soon and they’ll have a few more dollars to throw around until the deed is done.
Jayne Bowers-Haslam
Friday 25th June 2021 at 10:04 am
I don’t believe anyone is under any illusion that this is the finale, especially the residents close to the scrub land.
I’m sure we are all waiting with bated breath for the next encounter.