Key points to raise

We have already shown the strength of local feeling against this development with the volume of objections to the initial planning application.

You can help us keep the pressure on by adding your comments to the Cheshire East planning portal in relation to the Bellway request not to complete an EIA.

We recommend that you look to include some or all of the following key points.

Underestimation of the peat

• Peat volume and quality: Bellway’s document underplays the volume and quality of the peat present on site. Even degraded peat plays a role in carbon storage and an EIA is needed to explore how to conserve the deposits or mitigate the environmental impact of moving them.
• Local policies: Cheshire East Council has specific policies aimed at protecting these specific landscape types and any development absolutely contradicts these policies
• Carbon impact: Peat plays a valuable role in carbon absorption, thus supporting the council’s own carbon neutral plans. We are in a climate emergency: peatlands must be removed from the Local Plan as a matter of urgency
• Lindow Mossland Partnership: Cheshire East Council is a member of the Lindow Mossland Partnership, whose specific aims include protecting Lindow Moss, which LPS59 is part of
• National policies: Local and national policies highlight the environmental importance of peatlands and the need to preserve and, where possible, restore them.
• Full site: Cheshire East Council should consider the site as a whole and not allow piecemeal developments to remove this important field from our town’s history
• Biodiversity: The site is home to rare and uncommon species of birds, wildlife including bats, badgers and foxes, and a rich habitat of plantlife.

Archaeological importance

• Recognition of the Lindow importance: Bellway does not give adequate attention to the national and international significance of Lindow Moss. An EIA must be completed with this background in mind.
• Historic features: This land is of historic and ecological importance and the LPS59 site as a whole should be returned to green belt
• Peatlands fame: Wilmslow is nationally and internationally renowned for its peatlands and steps must be taken to preserve this historic feature of the town. Approximately 50% of the site contains peat
• Preservation of potential discoveries: It’s vital that any potential archaeological discoveries are planned for and that an assessment is made to prepare for this

Impact on drainage

• Construction impact: Bellway has not outlined how it will mitigate the impact of construction on local drainage. Removing the peat will have a negative impact on flooding/drainage locally, affecting both local residents and the broader Lindow Moss landscape
• Challenging drainage: The area is already susceptible to flooding, with a high water table. Ground conditions are very challenging and pump drainage during construction would have a negative impact on Lindow Moss and on the surrounding homes. An EIA must explore how this can be managed.

Impact on traffic

• Traffic management: The proposed access to the Bellway site is poor and Cumber Lane and Moor Lane – already congested and poorly maintained roads – cannot cope with increased traffic volume. There are too many houses on this development to be served by a single point of access – Cheshire East policies state 100+ dwellings require two access points
• Highways: Cumber Lane and Moor Lane are not major roads and are not wide enough to cope with increased traffic, either from construction or more residents
• Infrastructure: The road surfaces on Cumber Lane and Moor Lane are already significantly damaged, and traffic from construction and more residents will compound this
• Traffic: Bellway’s assessment that 53% of residents will work from home and only 38% will travel by car is based on the National Census 2021, taken a year after the first COVID-19 lockdown period, when remote working levels were high. It’s not reflective of current or future working patterns so the conclusion that the proposed 133 dwellings would generate only 46 additional car trips during peak hours significantly underestimates the likely traffic impact – not to mention the additional traffic generated by deliveries etc.
• Lack of public transport: There’s only one bus per hour serving the town centre from the area, making it likely that most new residents will rely on cars. It is therefore reasonable to expect majority of new homes will be primarily reliant on cars, exacerbating existing congestion and placing additional strain on roads that are not fit for such volume
• Impact on major roads: Increased traffic will contribute to already congested key roads such as Water Lane, Chapel Lane, Knutsford Road and the A34. The Wilmslow Neighbourhood Plan says that larger developments in the area should consider the impact on the traffic flow in town
• Safety: Pavements along Moor Lane are narrow and sloping, and an increase in traffic would reduce safety for pedestrians. The Bellway report mentions the lack of crossings and poor visibility at the site entrance. With the higher number of cars that will be on the roads, there is a particular concern for the high number of children walking to local schools in the morning. 
• Schools: Wilmslow High School is oversubscribed. 17% of applicants did not get a place at Wilmslow High School last September.

We believe that Cheshire East Council should insist upon an Environmental Impact Assessment, and that this must be carried out independently of Bellway Homes.