OBJECTIONS have been lodged against two near-identical planning applications on the same road in a Cheshire East village.

Alderley Edge Parish Council has ‘strongly recommended’ planners refuse the bids on Moss Lane, which in both instances would see existing homes demolished to make way for two new houses on the same plot.

What makes the situation even more remarkable is that Cheshire East Council’s northern planning committee discussed a third scheme of the same nature last month.

That application for Rydal — number 8 Moss Road — was rejected by the committee, and now bids have been submitted for number 1 — The Limes — and number 6 — Beechwood — on the same street.

In a letter of objection on the number 6 application, the parish council said: “The parish council strongly recommends refusal and calls in to committee. It is over-development in the greenbelt, and, on its side of the road, isn’t appropriate in density, scale, or grain of the area.

“This is contrary to emerging neighbourhood plan policy AE2. In-fill development and increased density aren’t consistent to this area. There is insufficient justification for supporting the increased density and is as such also against emerging neighbourhood plan policy AE4.

“In principle this proposal differs little from [Rydal] just recently refused at committee and ought to be rejected on the same grounds.”

Knutsford Guardian: How the new houses on 6 Moss Road would lookHow the new houses on 6 Moss Road would look Knutsford Guardian: How the two new properties at 6 Moss Road would look

However, agent Emery Planning, writing to planning officers in a design and access statement said: “Overall, we consider that this proposal provides an appropriate and well-designed solution for a replacement and an infill dwelling, that will fit well within the existing site constraints and the surroundings.”

On The Limes, the parish council added that it had concerns over parking and housing mix.

It said: “The area is significantly strained currently with regards parking — the introduction of two new driveways on Duke Street will mean the loss of essential parking — especially for residents of Heyes Lane with no off or on road parking adjacent to Moss Rose.

“Emerging Neighbourhood plan policy AE2 calls for 95 per cent of all new housing to be up to three bedrooms and only five per cent to be 4+ bedrooms — we are losing a much needed bungalow to accommodate two 4+ bedroom houses.”

Writing in The Limes’ planning application, developers say: “The site lends itself to the development of two residential properties and is not detrimental to the overall density of the surrounding area. We feel this is a sympathetic approach to providing new housing provision in Alderley Edge on an existing brownfield site.”

You can find the applications via Cheshire East’s planning portal — use reference ‘20/5421M’ for 1 Moss Road and ‘20/5021M’ for 6 Moss Road.