THE future of Lindow Moss should become clearer tomorrow, December 19.

Cheshire East Council’s strategic planning board is set to vote on plans that would see 14 detached homes built to the south of the peat bog – which sits in greenbelt land.

Applicants Andrew Rowland and Richard Bond – directors at Croghan Peat, the firm which owns the site and extracts peat from it – say they will restore Lindow Moss as a wetland if the housing plans are approved.

In a report issued ahead of tomorrow’s meeting, CEC’s planning officers suggested that such a significant benefit would outweigh the harm of building on Wilmslow’s greenbelt land.

The report said: “Under normal circumstances, this is not a development proposal that would be supported by officers.

“However, the stated benefits have the potential to be nationally significant, or even of European importance.

“Therefore, on balance, it is considered that the significance of the benefits does outweigh the identified cumulative harm in this case.”

It is hoped that by restoring Lindow Moss as a wetland, native flora and fauna could return to the site, while more wildlife would be attracted to the area.

However, officers are concerned about the loss of woodland at the 1.8 hectare site which would be used for housing, as well as the development’s impact on road safety and the houses’ design not being in keeping with their surroundings.

Two campaign groups which have called for Lindow Moss to be restored are opposed to the plans.

In a letter sent to CEC when consultation reopened on the proposal this autumn, Roger Bagguley, from Residents of Wilmslow, said that the group ‘previously supported the application’ but was no longer able to.

“There will be an abundant loss of vegetation and the potential damage to the roots of retained trees indicates overdevelopment of the site,” he said.

“The proposed 14 semi prestigious family homes do not address the Wilmslow need for two and three-bedroom houses.”

The Saltersley Common Preservation Society is also concerned about homes being built at a site which they believe is prone to subsidence because conditions on the operation of Lindow Moss have not been met – such as the lack of a sluice gate for controlling drainage.

Chairman Tony Evans said: “We obviously want to see the peat bog being restored, but this is not the way to do it.”