Minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee 18th May 2026

PL26/001 PRESENT

Councillors Dalzell, Gardiner, Gray, and Banks.

B Allen (Deputy Town Clerk).

 

PL26/002 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

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

 

PL26/003 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS

Cllr Gardiner declared personal interests in applications 26/1162/LBC and 26/1164/ADV on the grounds they met the owner to discuss technical details of the application; 26/1497/PRIOR-3MA on the grounds of being a neighbour; 26/1557/DSC on the grounds of the agent being a former employer; 26/1308/HOUS on the grounds of the agent is a former colleague; and 26/1387/HOUS on the grounds they met with neighbours regarding another application.

 

PL26/004 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

A member of the public spoke regarding application 26/1557/DSC stating that the application is connected to the Planning Enforcement reference 23/00125E which highlights the case is to be closed as it is awaiting the determination of this application. The application presents restoration to the bank and hedgerow but with the constructed fence and steep bank there is a stark contrast on the side of 2 Croft Lane. The resident highlighted that residents complained when the fence was first erected and requested the committee consider asking the planning officer to plant both holly on both sides of the fence.

 

PL26/005 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 28^th April 2026.

 

PL26/006 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

It was RESOLVED submit the comments detailed below.

 

26/1162/LBC	115 King Street	Listed building consent for the removal of existing white acrylic lettering from shopfront, replace with new white acrylic lettering and repaint shopfront.	The council raises no objections, subject to neighbour comments.
26/1164/ADV	115 King Street	Advertisement consent for shopfront signage.	The council raises no objections, subject to neighbour comments.
26/0799/HOUS	23 Cranford Square	Single storey rear extension.	The council raises no objection, subject to neighbour comments.
26/1387/HOUS	Bluebell Farm, Manchester Road	Proposed Conversion of attached barn to additional living accommodation incidental to the existing farmhouse	The council raises no objections, subject to neighbour comments.
26/1495/LBC	Ground Floor, King Edward Court	Listed building consent for proposed change of use from Class E (Office Use) to Sui Generis Use, to utilise the former officer space as community events / pop-up space at Ground Floor, King Edward Court. (Linked with 26/1269/FUL)	The council raises no objections, subject to a request that the design of the door being changed to include glazing bars to match the proportions of the existing fenestration.
26/1269/FUL	Ground Floor, King Edward Court	Proposed change of use from Class E (Office Use) to Sui Generis Use, to utilise the former officer space as community events / pop-up space at Ground Floor, King Edward Court. (Linked with 26/1495/LBC)	The council raises no objections, subject to the following requests, that the design of the door being changed to include glazing bars to match the proportions of the existing fenestration, and that any proposed operational use of the building does not exceed 23:00 hours.
26/1557/DSC	Land To The North-West Of 2 Croft Lane	Discharge of conditions 3, 4, 6, 11, 13 and 14 on approval 24/4738/FUL	The council supports the discharge of condition but requests the developer plant a holly hedge on both side of the fence to soften the stark visual provided from the erected fencing.
26/1504/DSC	Bexton Primary School, Blackhill Lane	Discharge of condition 6 on approval 22/3973M – Proposed Wraparound Care Facility Building	The council makes no comment.
26/1497/PRIOR-3MA	Caledonian House, Tatton Street	Prior approval for the proposed change of use of existing office building to 18 residential apartments.	The council raises no objections, subject to the Planning Officer clarifying the level of parking outlined is within the ownership of the applicant, and that any delivered number of dwellings contribute to the housing land supply metric.
26/1308/HOUS	8 Byrne Close	garage conversion to bedroom and cycle store	The council OBJECTS to the application on the grounds that proposal presents an increase in bedrooms and a reduction in available off-street parking, resulting in a failure to provide 2 parking spaces and therefore the proposal does not comply with Knutsford Neighbourhood Plan policy T4.
26/1598/HOUS	24 Rowley Way	Fit a new casement window to bedroom 4 on the West facing side elevation, this will be a double unit with one hinged opening, this will be required for building regulations as a fire escape as its the only window in the newly formed bedroom. The glass will be obscured	The council does not feel able to comment as it is uncertain why this application requires planning permission.
26/1671/NMA	1 Meadow Drive	Non-material amendment to approval 25/2486/HOUS –  Demolition of existing garage, carport and conservatory, erection of single storey side and rear extensions, erection of front porch, installation of replacement windows and existing walls insulated and rendered in off white.	The council raises no objections subject to the neighbour comments and would like to draw the attention to the attention of the Planning Officer that the proposal presents a 3 bedroom property, and the council request the Planning Officer is completely satisfied the proposal provides 2 parking spaces in compliance with Knutsford Neighbourhood Plan policy T4.
26/1614/DSC	Knutsford Dry Cleaners, 3 Toft Road	Discharge of condition 5 on approval 25/3611/FUL	The council has no comments.

 

PL26/007 TREE APPLICATIONS

It was RESOLVED submit the comments detailed below.

 

26/1415/TPO	4 Croft Lane	Works to Protected Trees: The tree is a mature Oak. The Tree is in poor condition and we are requesting maintenance work to the lower 5 branches and husbandry work to the trunk	The council raises no objections, subject to neighbour comments.
26/1267/TCA	2 Rowley Bank Cottage, Toft Road	Section 211 notice: Two Leylandi – Complete Removal.	The council raises no objections, subject to neighbour comments.

 

PL26/008 PLANNING DECISIONS

The latest planning decisions were noted.

 

PL26/009 PLANNING ENFORCEMENT

The log was noted. It was noted that the complaint regarding the time taken resolve items 1610 and 2014 was being considered by Cheshire East Council.

 

PL26/010 OUTSTANDING MATTERS

The log was noted and it was RESOLVED to write to the interim Head of Place at Cheshire East Council to seek a resolution to the encroachment of the highway verge at Lane End.

 

PL26/011 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on Monday 8^th June at 6pm.