‘Town development needs to be planned’ (From Knutsford Guardian)

‘Town development needs to be planned’

7:20pm Thursday 27th September 2012 in News By James Wilson

A KEY land and estate owner in Knutsford has said the town needs to accommodate the growth in the future.

Henry Brooks, from Tatton Estate Management, told the Guardian that development will happen in the town, but it needed to be planned.

“Knutsford is our home town, and we don’t want green belt development unless it’s entirely necessary, justified and appropriate,” he said.

“Every borough and every town has to have a plan that accommodates growth, and if local authorities don’t have these plans then the council will not be able to refuse developments.

“Knutsford has no large brownfield sites apart from the court house, and no-one would want to see that go.

“We need to accommodate growth, for example for homes for our children, for jobs, for schools and other community facilities, and I hope the final plan continues to emphasise all these elements.

“Under the national planning policy framework, development will happen in Knutsford whether we like it or not.

“So the opportunity is how can we make sure it happens in a balanced, positive way and something that our children and grandchildren are proud of.”