Bird's Nest Planning Committee

Planning application update – Land East of Audlem Road (Bird's Nest)

Councillor Geoff Seddon, on behalf of Audlem Parish Council, spoke at Cheshire East's Southern Planning Committee (SPC) on Wednesday 31st August, where the application for a development of 28 properties on the site opposite McCarthy and Stone was being discussed. The site had been earmarked for development, with the Parish Council's agreement, in Cheshire East's Local Plan 2018.

The Parish Council objected to the original application which had been submitted in March 2022 on a number of issues to do with the type and size of the properties that did not meet the policies of the Audlem Neighbourhood Plan. Also, not enough affordable housing was being provided.

Subsequently, Parish Councillors met the developer who put forward a revised plan which overcame the issues which had led to the objection. The proposal was to provide 19 two and three bedroom properties and 9 properties with four or five bedrooms. The smaller properties would meet the need of the latest housing needs survey for Audlem. As such, the Parish Council was willing to support the revised application.

However, when Cheshire East published the agenda for the meeting last week, it became apparent that the site had been taken out of the Local Plan and was now not allocated for development. Parish Councillors were not aware of this.

The recommendation to the Southern Planning Committee by Cheshire East Planners was to refuse the application. However, the Parish Council was, in principle, still supportive of the application because of the benefits that would accrue in bringing young families into Audlem. Cllr Seddon asked the SPC to defer making a decision in order to allow residents of Audlem to have their say as to whether the development should go ahead.

Ward Councillor Rachel Bailey also spoke and asked the SPC to defer making a decision.

After a very lengthy debate, the SPC decided by seven votes to three to refuse the application.