The controversial tennis court at Finlows Bower Farm, which broke up natural views across the Cheshire Plain from Stormy Point, has been dug up.
The tennis court, along with the two sets of entrance gates on Mottram Road and a domestic outbuilding were all built without planning permission, within the North Cheshire Green Belt and an Area of Special County Value.
A number of retrospective planning applications have been submitted to Cheshire East Council for the development at Finlows Bower Farm, the most recent of which proposes that the hard surface of the tennis court be removed and replaced with grass. However, the new contours of the land would be kept so that a level grassed area is retained.
This application (reference 11/3394M) has yet to be determined so we are not clear whether the hard service will be replaced with a level grassed area, as per the planning application, or whether the owner will attempt to reinstate its former appearance.
A spokesperson from Cheshire East Council said "It would be inappropriate to comment further or speculate on the owners intentions until the application has been formally determined."
Speaking about the latest planning application Philip Jobling from the Edge Association said "Both the National Trust and ourselves were concerned about the impact of the earthmoving on what is a very important piece of landscape when it is enjoyed by thousands of people every year looking down from the Edge.
"All this application does is replace the artificial surface that has been laid with grass. From a distance it will look exactly the same and so our opposition to what has been done without planning consent remains. We will be urging the Council to stand firm."
The National Trust has also recommended refusal of the latest planning application stating "The unauthorised works do not protect and conserve the landscape character of the site, nor have they respected local landscape character. Furthermore no works are proposed for the positive enhancement of the rural landscape. As such the application is contrary to policies NE1, NE2 and NE3 of the Adopted Local Plan.
"In addition the unauthorised works have taken place in an especially sensitive location being both part of the Area of Special County Value and in close proximity to, and ready seen from viewpoints at, the ever popular Alderley Edge.
"It is also considered that the proposed development, including the retention of levels, is inappropriate development, not related to agriculture, and thereby contrary to Green Belt policy."
This latest application (reference 11/3394M) is a resubmission of a similar proposal (reference 10/3342M) to remove the hard surface and replant the levelled area so it could then be used as a lawn tennis court for a maximum period of 28 days in any calendar year.
That was refused in February 2011, because the Council considered that no special circumstances exist to justify the approval of the tennis court, which they deemed inappropriate development in the Green Belt.
Planning permission for the re-siting of the timber outbuilding was granted in April 2010. The application stated that the timber frame of the building will be disassembled and sited on new foundations within the area of the garden curtilage. The present site of the outbuilding will then be landscaped and grassed in order to reinstate its former appearance as part of a paddock.
The approval was granted on the condition that the domestic outbuilding be relocated within 2 months, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority. As far as we are aware this building has not yet been moved but a Cheshire East spokesperson has confirmed that "officers are due to attend the site to check whether the outbuilding has been relocated as agreed with the owner".
A second retrospective planning application for the retention of the two pairs of entrance gates was refused in March 2010 on the grounds it "would form a visually obtrusive feature which would detract from the rural character and appearance of the Green Belt and Area of Special County Value within which they are located." The gates are yet to be removed.
A spokesperson from Cheshire East Council said "Enforcement Notices were served in December in respect of both sets of entrance gates and associated pillars, walls, fencing and bollards. The Notices come into effect on 9th January unless appeals are lodged with the Secretary of State beforehand. The Notices require the demolition of the gates etc. within 3 months of the Notices coming into effect."
The latest planning application for the tennis court area and engineering operations, reference 11/3394M, can be viewed on the Cheshire East website, however the closing date for comments was December 14th 2011.
Click here for previous articles on the Finlow Farm development.
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