READERS may dimly remember me sounding off a couple of weeks ago about how residents and local councils find it almost impossible to resist developers’ planning proposals without a credible Five-Year Housing Land Supply in place, the responsibility of the borough council.
Sadly, another classic example was reported by James Wilson in last week’s issue, this time involving Cheshire West and Chester rather than Chester East.
A developer proposed 30 houses on a greenfield site in Lower Peover.
Local residents made multiple objections and the council refused the application.
The developer appealed and guess what the planning inspector said? "Notwithstanding the policy conflict, given the absence of a Five-Year Housing Land Supply … I find that the proposals would be sustainable development".
Local opinion trampled into the development mud yet again.
It seems for as long as Cheshire's East and West continue to fail us in this elementary way, local opinion and representations count for nothing.
Roll on Neighbourhood Plans.
Geoff Holman Knutsford
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