PL25/130 PRESENT

Councillors McCulloch, Dalzell, Gray, Johnson, Lowe, and Mears.

B Allen (Deputy Town Clerk).

 

PL25/131 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllrs Coan and Hartley (personal business).

 

PL25/132 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS

No member declared an interest in any item.

 

PL25/133 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Several residents spoke in relation to the Booths Hall outline application, expressing concerns over the proposals including that the safeguarded land should not be brought forward noting the impact on wider town infrastructure and the town’s inability to absorb the development, environmental and ecological concerns including impact on protected trees, the removal of trees to facilitate the development citing concerns over the biodiversity net gain metric, and the impact on privacy from the proposal noting the need for evergreen planting to screen and protect existing properties along, Ash Grove, Lynton Close & Delmar Road where the tree line is lacking in depth or non-existent.

Residents asked that the applicant revises the footpath and connections plan to make the primary route through the housing area and that the area that comprises Lime Walk be protected, and that the proposed bus stops for Chelford Road are moved closer as they appear to be too far away for people to practically use.

Residents raised a point to ask the road application is not considered separately as the road is not needed without the development, an issue with storey height contradictions within the documents and that land height would play a part in considered overlooking so storey heights should be restricted, that United Utilities have not approved the revised foul drainage proposal and surface water ground infiltration may not be adequate, that Booths Mere is a local wildlife site and the impacts to this site need correctly assessing as it has been undervalued, and that whilst a contribution to the Knutsford Rugby Club would be positive, detailed reports are needed to secure the land and commuted sum for sports pitches on site which will require the rugby club to work with Bruntwood and the RFU and Cheshire East.

The agent for the applicant spoke in relation to the Booths Hall road application, stating the main changes are the removal of a bund and the car park. The agent for the applicant also spoke in relation to the Booths Hall outline application, stating that the application considers means of access and everything else is part of the outline, with more detailed proposals coming at the reserved matters stage. The agent stated the number of dwellings has been reduced to 160 homes which equates to 29 per hectare and would not exceed 2.5 storeys with the apartment also being removed, the “red line” boundary has been pulled back from the mere, that the spatial design code would be captured by conditions, the engagement with Cheshire East Council Public Transport officers has resulted in a bus stop with a potential circular route for Knutsford, and the applicant has engaged and adhered to points made by Cheshire East Council.

 

PL25/134 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 5th January 2025.

 

PL25/135 BOOTHS HALL PLANNING APPLICATIONS (REVISED PLANS)

For application 25/1469/FUL it was RESOLVED to submit no objections subject to determining application 25/1468/OUT prior to this application as this outline housing application is directly linked to the need for the proposed road within this application.

For application 25/1468/OUT it was RESOLVED to have the Deputy Town Clerk draft a representation not objecting to the revised documents including the following points raised during the discussion of this item:

  • The council strongly request the applicant and the Cheshire East Public Transport Officer reconsider the location of the proposed bus stop to a position within the housing site. The council are supportive of a circular route and request to be consulted regarding the position of stops and formation of routes for any potential bus services to ensure the maximum benefit is afforded to the town.
  • The council supports the active travel routes proposed and where the updated footpath and connections plan shows any possible alternative footpath, the council requests that they should be amended to show a definite shared cycle foot path within the new housing area, and in the interests of preserving the historic walkway, that Lime Walk presents, it is requested this is not used as a route for services cables or subject to any works that may harm the tree-lined route.
  • Where vegetation was proposed for removal, the applicant has made efforts to satisfy neighbour concerns however the council requests the applicant consider adding native coniferous tree species along the boundary wooded areas which border existing neighbouring properties, specifically paying close attention to the boundary areas where the tree line is lacking depth or is non-existent.
  • The council consider the impact to Booths Mere has been undervalued and request the Planning Officer reconsult with the necessary officers to ensure the ecological and flood risks are fully assessed.
  • Where the land height could contribute to detrimentally affecting the residential amenity of the existing neighbouring properties through overlooking, the council request the Spatial Design Code be amended and conditioned to limit the height of the proposed dwellings to no more than 2 storeys.
  • To include the previous s106 requests with amendments to the contributions for Knutsford Rugby Club to ensure contributions are used within the parish, and for Lime Walk to not be used as a shared cyclepath.

 

PL25/136 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on Monday 26th January 2026