Statement to Planning Appeal Inquiry:
Appeal By Ashall Homes Ltd- Land off Dalefords Lane Sandiway
Planning Inspectorate Reference APP/AO665/A/13/2197189
“My name is Cllr John Grimshaw and I am an elected Member for the Weaverham and Cuddington Ward on Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council. I also represented Cuddington and Sandiway whilst a Member of the previous Vale Royal Borough Council. My involvement with the Parish therefore spans seven years
I was a member of the Local Development Framework Panel which worked with officers to produce the Draft Local Plan which is now out for consultation.
I am also a member of the CWaC Planning Committee.
I have read and agree with both the Borough Councils and Community Groups Proof of Evidence. And do not intend to repeat what is said here. The diligence with which the Community Group have worked with the Community and the quality of their document truly reflects the general concern that this development is not needed in Sandiway.
But I would comment as follows :-
The golden thread that runs through the NPPF is that of sustainability. And I can fully understand the need for growth where services are failing due to lack of support.
But this is not the case in Cuddington and Sandiway, where most of the services are fully committed and will shortly have to cope with a further 320 houses already approved at Eden Grange and Forest Edge (Golden Nook) sites where construction has already commenced.
Our Draft Local Plan when approved will provide 22000 homes across the Borough between 2010 and 2030. This is seen by some to be overly optimistic
particularly as we currently have over 8000 planning approvals yet builders are only building at the rate of about 800 pa, and is one reason why we cannot achieve our 5 year achievable Housing Land Supply requirement. We also have to apply a 20% buffer as in the past we did not build enough houses due to a moratorium on building because we were building too many. I fail to see the logic in this requirement.
However, Sandiway/Cuddington has been deemed a Service Centre along with nine other villages and we plan to increase the houses here by 200 across the plan period. You will have noted that this has already been achieved and will increase the number of house in the Parish by 17%. If this application is approved the total increase would be in the order of 25%.
The Borough is committed to a robust policy of growth and we believe that the majority of it should be in or adjacent to the main towns to be truly sustainable.
Cuddington and Sandiway does not need, nor could it cope with any more housing.
Thank you”
Further information regarding the Inquiry is at: http://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/10785593._Waiting_game__for_Cuddington_homes_campaigners/
