A further twist in a long-running story in Stockport has come with the local council’s planning committee rejecting proposals made by a local charity for a £45m school and 325 homes. This project was set for green belt area close to Cheadle Hulme, but The Seashell Trust has said they will appeal the decision. The charity has stated that they believe the decision to be flawed and a decision that stands against the council’s “officers’ professional advice.”

Back in January of this year, the local planning committee voted by seven to five to reject the plans for a 60,000 sq ft school. With the plans also offering plans for 325 homes on the site, there was a lot of positivity surrounding the aims, and the plan had received a recommendation for approval by the planning officers.

The green belt is an important topic for many people

A key issue in the matter was the fact that the plan stood in opposition to the green belt policies for the local area. There have been concerns that this scheme would have a negative impact on the open nature of the green belt area which could start an encroachment into the countryside. There is obviously a need to balance two distinct issues when it comes to developing property in and around Stockport.

You will find that most people will agree that there is a need for additional property in Stockport but there is a lot of disagreement as to how to progress with respect to green belt areas. There was also a concern that over 300 homes in the area would lead to a spike in demand for school places, and this could cause issues in the area.

The charity believed that they have exceptional circumstances in their favour

Even with these issues, the Seashell Trust believed that there were exceptional circumstances which should have allowed the project to receive the green light. While critics of the plans have cited issues and problems, the backers of the project have been able to pinpoint benefits of the work.

Stockport Council have released a statement saying; “We’re aware of an appeal from the Seashell Trust regarding a recent planning decision. This will now be heard through the appropriate appeals process.”

We know that the matter of property development is a big issue in Stockport. This is a hot topic and many people will have an opinion, but there will also be many people looking for advice and guidance on what is happening in Stockport. As a local estate agent, we are committed to supporting the local community and we are always happy to offer advice and guidance. You can give Spencer Harvey a call on 0161 480 8888 or send us an email at info@spencerharvey.co.uk. For a free valuation please visit: https://www.spencerharvey.co.uk/valuation-enquiry.html