PL25/094 PRESENT
Councillors McCulloch, Coan, Dalzell, Hartley, Johnson, Lowe.
A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk).
PL25/095 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Cllrs Gray (personal business) and Mears (health)
PL25/096 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
No member declared an interest in any item under discussion.
PL25/097 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
No members of the public were present.
PL25/099 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 3rd November 2025.
PL25/100 PLANNING APPLICATIONS
It was RESOLVED to submit the comments detailed below.
| 25/3994/HOUS | 44 Boothfields | First floor addition and revised materials to approval 24/0749M | The council raises no objection, subject to neighbour comments. |
| 25/3917/DEMCA | 24 Heathfield Square | Consent for demolition in conservation area for proposed single storey rear extension. Replacement windows to main dwelling. Demolition of garage in rear garden. New timber garden shed. | The council raises no objection, subject to neighbour comments. |
| 25/3916/HOUS | 24 Heathfield Square | Proposed single storey rear extension. Replacement windows to main dwelling. Demolition of garage in rear garden. New timber garden shed. | The council raises no objection, subject to a condition that the building remain ancillary to the main dwelling. |
| 25/4019/HOUS | Heath House, 19 Gaskell Avenue | Rear extensions with lower courtyard basement extension following removal of existing single storey extension. Single storey side extension, along with general internal alterations to improve layout. | The council raises no objection subject to the Conservation Officer being satisfied that no historical features will be affected. |
| 25/4020/LBC | Heath House, 19 Gaskell Avenue | Listed building consent for rear extensions with lower courtyard basement extension following removal of existing single storey extension. Single storey side extension, along with general internal alterations to improve layout. | The council raises no objection subject to the Conservation Officer being satisfied that no historical features will be affected. |
| 25/3987/HOUS | 3 Holford Crescent | Proposed Single storey wrap round side and rear extension. Front extension to side of existing dwelling. | The council raises no objection, subject to neighbour comments. |
| 25/4186/LBC | 3 Princess Street | Listed building consent for proposed fascia sign to North elevation, facing Church View (retrospective). | The council OBJECTS as insufficient information has been provided as to how the sign will be affixed to the listed building. |
| 25/4188/ADV | 3 Princess Street | Advertisement consent for proposed fascia sign to North elevation, facing Church View (retrospective). | The council OBJECTS on the grounds that the sign is not compatible with the Knutsford Design Guide by virtue of the materials used, and as such is detrimental to the character of the conservation area. |
| 25/4152/ADV | 36 Princess Street | Installation of air conditioning condensers to rear elevation of property. Replacement of existing signage to shopfront façade and installation of new projecting sign. No change of use and no structural alterations to the retail unit. | The council OBJECTS on the grounds:
a) The proposed internal illumination of the signage is inappropriate in, and detrimental the character of, the conservation area b) The proposals employ inappropriate materials for the conservation area and contrary to the Knutsford Design Guide
It is unclear if the proposed LED strip lighting under the cornice overhang is solely illuminating the lettering (to which the council does not object) or along the whole frontage (to which the council would object, on the grounds of maintaining the amenity of the town centre conservation area)
The council further endorses the comments of the Conservation Officer |
| 25/4224/FUL | 36 Princess Street | Installation of air conditioning condensers to rear elevation of property. Replacement of existing signage to shopfront façade and installation of new projecting sign. No change of use and no structural alterations to the retail unit. | The council OBJECTS to this application and endorses the comments of the Conservation Officer, additionally is concerned as to the noise impact of the condenser units on the adjacent residential properties, noting they are older cottages which may have poor sound insulation.
The council further OBJECTS to the signage on the grounds:
a) The proposed internal illumination of the signage is inappropriate in, and detrimental the character of, the conservation area b) The proposals employ inappropriate materials for the conservation area and contrary to the Knutsford Design Guide
It is unclear if the proposed LED strip lighting under the cornice overhang is solely illuminating the lettering (to which the council does not object) or along the whole frontage (to which the council would object, on the grounds of maintaining the amenity of the town centre conservation area)
|
| 25/4221/HOUS | 65 Mobberley Road | single storey ancillary building to rear of site | The council raises no objection, subject to neighbour comments, the views of the Conservation Officer and a condition that the building remain ancillary to the main dwelling. |
| 25/4109/HOUS | Danebury Gardens, 8 Tabley Road, | Replace window with door and addition of balcony | The council raises no objection, subject to neighbour comments. |
| 25/3988/NMA | 11 Moorside | Non-material amendment on approval 24/1447M: Increase wall plate height by 1200mm, retain existing ridge height of roof as permitted. | The council raises no comment. |
| 25/4166/HOUS | 21 Norbury Close | Single storey front extension comprising combined garage conversion and extension. | The council raises no objection, subject to the planning officer being satisfied there remains adequate parking on site. |
| 25/4094/CLEUD | 24 Woodside | Certificate of existing lawful development of a single storey detached outbuilding | The council raises no objection. |
| 25/4313/HOUS | 12 Sandileigh Avenue | Single storey side and rear extension and widening of drop kerb | The council raises no objection, subject to neighbour comments. |
| 25/4309/HOUS | Sanctum Legh Road, | External works to detached dwelling, including removal of conservatory and porch, rendering, installation of windows and doors and minor fabric repairs. | The council raises no objection, subject to neighbour comments. |
| 25/4035/FUL | 11 Branden Drive | Demolition of existing hall and construction of 1no. new dwelling with associated parking and landscaping | The council raises no objection, subject to neighbour comments. |
| 25/4335/HOUS | West Cottage, 57 Mobberley Road | Single storey ancillary building | proposed leisure suite | The council raises no objection, subject to neighbour comments and a condition that the building remain ancillary to the main dwelling. |
| 25/4144/LBC | 2 Bexton Road | Listed building consent for the addition of internal secondary glazing to up to 3 No. first floor windows with associated internal wall insulation and lining to first floor front wall only. | The council raises no objection. |
| 25/4250/HOUS | 6 Meadow Drive | Loft Conversion Please note that this application includes rebuilding the roof with a slight raising (less than 300mm) to match the new roof and loft conversion at N0 2 Meadow Drive. | The council was unable to access the plans for this application due to the operation of the planning portal. Until such time as they can be reviewed by the committee, the council submits a holding objection. |
| 25/3846/FUL
|
Land Adjacent 99 Warren Avenue
|
The erection of a two-storey detached dwelling with associated parking and garden area located on Warren Avenue, Knutsford
|
The council OBJECTS on the grounds that the application significant detracts from the street scene by virtue of being forward on the building line, constitutes overdevelopment by virtue of the mass and scale of development, results in a detrimental loss of amenity garden to the existing dwelling and insufficient amenity garden for the new dwelling, and has an insufficient parking arrangement. |
PL25/102 TREE APPLICATIONS
It was RESOLVED to submit the comments detailed below.
| 25/4239/TPO | 21 Sharston Crescent | Works to Protected Trees:
T1. Lime rear right of the property. Reduce in height by approximately 2 metres. Lowest limb on the property side of the tree reduce by 2 metres and shorten other lateral limbs to balance (reduce limbs by approx. 1.25 metres) Remove deadwood 3cm + in diameter. Reason – To manage the size of the tree due to proximity to the property. T2 Lime rear left of the property. Reduce in height by 2 metres and prune laterals on the property side by up to 2 metres. Prune other lateral limbs by approximately 1 metre to shape. Remove deadwood 3cm+ in diameter Reason – To manage the size of the tree due to proximity to the property. T3. Twin stemmed Pine rear left of the property. Reduce longer lateral branches over the neighbours property by 1.5-2 metres. Prune other secondary limbs to shape. Shorten limbs at the rear by 1-1.5 metres. Check the condition and tension of the cable brace in the crown, adjust if necessary. Reason – To manage the size of the tree due to proximity to the properties. Concentrating on the overhang over the neighbours gardens. |
The council raises no objections. |
| 25/4319/TCA | Birch House, 4 Lovat Drive | Section 211 notice:
T1 Birch, Fell Birch and plant a new tree in place, Tree is in decline and over mature. On my site visit there were mushrooms at the base, which have been removed when the lawn get cut. Replant with Maple or Oak tree. |
The council raises no objections. |
PL25/103 LICENSING APPLICATION: RED COW YARD
It was RESOLVED that subject to a licensing condition that all doors and windows remain closed after 11pm to keep noise levels to a minimum, no objection would be raised.
PL25/104 PLANNING DECISIONS
It was agreed to write to Cheshire East Council concerning the decision in relation to the TG Jones signage application, challenging the decision and whether due consideration had been given to specific policies and the council’s objection.
PL25/105 CHESHIRE EAST PLANNING PORTAL
It was RESOLVED to:
A) Submit a complaint to Cheshire East Council concerning the new planning portal noting that:
- There are frequent periods where no application information can be accessed
- The system needs an option where information does not need to be downloaded to be viewed
- The portal frequently glitches and fails to respond to clicks
- The ability to search by application number should lead directly to the application page
- The ‘human checks’ are a frustration for users such as councillors who use the portal heavily
- The new system is detrimental to the public user experience
- The new system is frustrating and slows the ability of town and parish councils to review application
B) Encourage other parish and town councils with similar frustrations to submit a complaint
C) To seek Knutsford’s Cheshire East Councillors to champion the issue
PL25/106 PLANNING APPEALS
The appeal against refusal for 23/3606M – Sandings, Chelford Road, was noted.
PL25/107 PLANNING ENFORCEMENT
The latest enforcement log was noted, an explanation as to why the Marble Arch case was closed was requested and it was agreed the committee should discuss how to make advertising rules clearer for businesses to avoid enforcement cases.
PL25/108 OUTSTANDING MATTERS
The log was noted.
PL25/109 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
It was noted that the next meeting would be held on Monday 15th December at 6pm.