CHESHIRE East has approved an application for an agricultural building in the Green Belt despite claims there is a history on the site of barns being built, bulldozed and replaced with houses.

Ollerton and Marthall Parish councillor Nick Speakman said the number of planning applications submitted for the site at New Mount Pleasant, Marthall, over the past few years was ‘flabbergasting’.

He was speaking at Wednesday’s (April 20) meeting of the northern planning committee about the application from Brighouse Farms Ltd to build a ‘general purpose agricultural sheep housing building’ on the Marthall site.

Cllr Speakman said building work had been continuous on the site for 10 years and the agricultural land had been reduced by nearly 75 per cent to less than 45 acres.

“This barn is just the latest in the constant knock down barn build house, rebuild barn elsewhere on site, knock down barn build house - so regimented, so regular, so predictable, that we could see future planning applications coming over the hill,” said the parish councillor.

The applicant’s agent, agricultural consultant Chris Harvey, said there was justification for the proposed building as the applicant’s two flocks of sheep had to kept apart.

He quoted from a vet’s report which stated: “It is absolutely vital that housing for the store animals is some distance from the pedigree flock.”

When asked by Cllr Sally Holland why the previous barns which had been demolished were not adequate, Mr Harvey said he wasn’t involved in that decision to demolish the buildings.

Planning officer Paul Wakefield reminded councillors several times during the discussion that they were considering only the application before them for an agricultural building.

Knutsford Guardian:

Cllr Paul Findlow

Prestbury councillor Paul Findlow said: “Are we being advised that cumulative impact is somehow not material, because if ever there was a case of cumulative impact, and taking that into account, I would have thought this is it.”

Knutsford councillor Tony Dean said: “There's been allegations made, that there is a pattern here of this gentleman's land being used to build barns which then get knocked down and become houses.”

He asked the planning officer if the allegation was correct and, if it is, why had so many houses been allowed in the Green Belt.

Mr Wakefield replied: “It's a matter of fact that barns have been converted to dwellings in this particular area, but across the borough as well.”

He said those had been assessed at the time against planning policies and added all councillors needed to consider now was the current application.

Cllr Dean said: “I think we are restricted. We can't make assumptions about the future, much as we fear what might happen, and we have to look at this on its own.”

He proposed the application be approved with two conditions – firstly that the building should be used solely for the purpose of agriculture and and secondly, if it ceases to be used for agriculture it should be removed and the land restored to its former condition.

But Cllr Lesley Smetham proposed refusal on the grounds of over-development because of the size of the hardstanding already built.

The committee took a vote on the proposal to approve, as this had been put forward first.

Seven councillors voted in favour, four against and one abstained, so the application was approved.