Highways gives thumbs down for Mill Lane plan

Strategic highways chiefs at Cheshire East are recommending the thumbs down for plans to build houses at Mill Lane.

In a report to planners, CEC Strategic Highways Manager Neil Jones says, in his opinion, the site cannot be sustainable and planning refusal is recommended on the current outline application.

Hockenhull Properties Ltd want to build up to 36 homes on green fields off Mill Lane with main estate access off Heathfield Road.

Mr Jones said in a consultation report on the proposals that he has concerns at how the site's new internal roads will interact with the Mill Lane bridleway.

His report says: "This is a single track and already serves a number of properties and farms and it is also a bridleway/footpath. I would not wish to see this track intensified any further as the width is not available for two-way flow and also Mill Lane is intended for pedestrian use."

Although traffic generation rates suggested by the developer may be on the low side, Mr Jones believes that, given the small size of the development, revised estimates are unlikely to be much higher.

Once distributed over the surrounding network, the extra generated traffic is unlikely to cause any severe harm and he finds the Heathfield Road access acceptable in terms of highway design.

But he is concerned that, given the limited bus services, the vast majority of trips will be by car and points out that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) seeks to promote sustainable transport.

His report adds: "The location of the site is considered not sustainable as the non-car opportunities to travel, especially for work based trips, are limited."

And he thinks the use of Mill Lane to serve more development is not acceptable "as this is a single track and acts as a footway/Bridleway and further traffic usage should be discouraged."

"Therefore, a refusal is recommended on the current planning application in that the Mill Lane is not a suitable access for further development and that the site is not sustainable."

The Highways report will please objectors to the plans which are scheduled to go before Cheshire East Council's Strategic Planning Board on October 9th.

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