COUNCILLORS are challenging a major housebuilder to work with Knutsford residents and make their planned development off Northwich Road a bit more special.

Cheshire East Council had already approved plans to build 190 homes as one of three major developments in the north of Knutsford earmarked in the local plan.

But at Wednesday’s strategic planning board meeting, members deferred making on decision on Redrow’s designs for the scheme so they could be improved.

Cllr Quentin Abel, independent CEC member for Knutsford, suggested there could be an ‘opportunity to do something special’ if the application was deferred to allow more discussions between the council and the developer.

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He added: “We are all very fortunate to be living in Cheshire East and there is an opportunity here to potentially set an example of the way that a developer and a town can work together for mutual benefit.”

CEC received 31 objections to the design, while Knutsford Town Council argued that it went against the town’s neighbourhood plan – with Cllr James McCulloch suggesting the scheme would not help Knutsford retain its ‘individual character’ and would not meet a need for smaller properties.

Opening the debate, Labour Cllr Mike Hunter, chairman of the strategic planning board, hit out at the disregard being shown to the Knutsford neighbourhood plan in Redrow’s proposal.

He said: “We were told and sold a dream that neighbourhood plans were the way for our residents to have an input into the planning process.

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“It was – and I quote – their way of having an influence on the way that their town grew. That’s not happened here.

“We have plenty of towns with lots of character – Nantwich, Knutsford, Macclesfield – and they are slowly but surely becoming homogenised because all we have is the same things being built in the town.”

Cllr Stewart Gardiner, Conservative member for CEC, echoed Cllr Hunter’s concerns – telling members he was ‘disappointed’ there had not been more engagement between residents and Redrow.

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He said: “While I accept there has been some negotiation, there has been an ignorance of what the neighbourhood plan requires, and at best a disregard for the policies.

“The neighbourhood plan is not the cherry on the cake, it is the icing on the cake, and that is what makes a significant difference to what the cake looks like.”

The committee unanimously voted to defer the item to consider making the scheme’s design more distinctive, to bring it in line with the Knutsford neighbourhood plan and to consider providing improved environmental features such as electric car charging points.

Following the meeting, John Cooper, land director for Redrow Homes (NW), said: “We consulted with the Knutsford Nether Ward community, including council officers and residents, when drawing up plans for new homes off Northwich Road – listening and responding to their comments during the application process.

“In line with the borough’s design code, the plans include detached, semi-detached, mews and bungalows. The proposed homes would provide architectural detailing and materials in keeping with the local Knutsford vernacular.

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“Across the 36 acre site we would provide 15 acres of open space including play areas, an FA standard football pitch, ecological pond, wild orchard and community allotments.

“The scheme was recommended for approval by council officers and we will work with the local authority to revise our plans to bring forward a sustainable development that will provide economic, environmental and social benefit to not only the new community, but the wider population of Knutsford.”