Local plan scoping consultation

I have lived on [REDACTED] for 8 years, we moved here as it is a quiet road with access to walks into the countryside. Whilst I appreciate we need more housing everywhere in the country, I feel adding 900 houses to the edge of the town, when there are seemingly 600 empty dwellings in Macclesfield which could be renovated, is ridiculous. Neighbours who have lived here for more than 30 years have provided the information below as to why the previous attempts to build on the farmland behind Hillcrest Road and the rest of Penningtons Lane have failed. I would also like to add to the list below that 900 houses will add, at best 900 vehicles to the already congested Congleton Road, at worst it will be double that.

Contamination

Historical intrusive geo-environmental testing within this immediate parcel identified localized traces of asbestos and soil contaminants. Large-scale construction, heavy earthworks, and piling operations risk releasing hazardous airborne fibres into the immediate vicinity of existing residential dwellings on Penningtons Lane. Construction should not be permitted without exhaustive, updated grid-borehole testing and a comprehensive, independently verified Remediation Strategy.

Drainage and Infiltration issues

The site's heavy clay soil structure provides virtually zero natural surface water infiltration. Proceeding with standard soakaways or high-density paving risks massive surface water runoff, which will overwhelm local networks and directly exacerbate localized flooding along Penningtons Lane and towards the nearby watercourses.

Ecological factors

Significantly, the southern part of the proposed development site is known as Bailey Riddings Moss - it's an intact area of peatland, supporting a good number of wetland plants species together with other pockets of peatland further down the lane. It appears this is connected to the main Danes Moss peat body via hydrological linkages deneath Congleton Lane.

Due to the close proximity to Danes Moss, any heavy modifications to the localized hydrology—forced by the impermeable clay ground conditions—could result in the dewatering and degradation of nearby peat layers, causing structural land instability and severe ecological damage. Furthermore, the loss of mature hedgerows and open fields along the lane will cause irreversible harm to local biodiversity and active wildlife corridors.

Leisure

Penningtons Lane has long been used by dog walkers, runners, walkers, hikers, and should remain a safe haven for families to enjoy.

Need for additional homes

There are currently over 600 empty homes in the Macclesfield area together with many abandoned mills that could be renovated without damaging the environment.

Government guidelines for turning green belt to grey belt land

Failure to Meet Emerging "Grey Belt" Criteria

The application attempts to justify development by exploiting national planning shifts regarding "Grey Belt" land. However, this parcel completely fails the required legal tests:

High Green Belt Contribution: The open land along Penningtons Lane performs a critical Green Belt function by preventing the physical sprawl of Macclesfield from merging into and eroding the historic, rural character of Gawsworth Parish.

Not Degraded Land: This site is not a neglected, obsolete, or brownfield space. It is a functional, scenic green corridor. Developing it would constitute a direct, unmitigated loss of open countryside.

Overdevelopment and Lack of Local Infrastructure

Local services in Gawsworth and South Macclesfield—specifically GP surgeries, local schools, and drainage networks—are already stretched to absolute capacity. This proposal offers no proportionate, guaranteed infrastructure upgrades to offset the strain it will place on the community, violating the "Golden Rules" of sustainable development.

We urge the council to remain consistent with its decision on application 21/4113M, where development on this immediate parcel was rejected due to lack of information regarding local peat hydrology, site contamination stability, and environmental infrastructure failure, together with the above.

I have lived on [REDACTED] for 8 years, we moved here as it is a quiet road with access to walks into the countryside. Whilst I appreciate we need more housing everywhere in the country, I feel adding 900 houses to the edge of the town, when there are seemingly 600 empty dwellings in Macclesfield which could be renovated, is ridiculous. Neighbours who have lived here for more than 30 years have provided the information below as to why the previous attempts to build on the farmland behind Hillcrest Road and the rest of Penningtons Lane have failed. I would also like to add to the list below that 900 houses will add, at best 900 vehicles to the already congested Congleton Road, at worst it will be double that.

Contamination
Historical intrusive geo-environmental testing within this immediate parcel identified localized traces of asbestos and soil contaminants. Large-scale construction, heavy earthworks, and piling operations risk releasing hazardous airborne fibres into the immediate vicinity of existing residential dwellings on Penningtons Lane. Construction should not be permitted without exhaustive, updated grid-borehole testing and a comprehensive, independently verified Remediation Strategy.

Drainage and Infiltration issues
The site's heavy clay soil structure provides virtually zero natural surface water infiltration. Proceeding with standard soakaways or high-density paving risks massive surface water runoff, which will overwhelm local networks and directly exacerbate localized flooding along Penningtons Lane and towards the nearby watercourses

Ecological factors
Significantly, the southern part of the proposed development site is known as Bailey Riddings Moss - it's an intact area of peatland, supporting a good number of wetland plants species together with other pockets of peatland further down the lane. It appears this is connected to the main Danes Moss peat body via hydrological linkages deneath Congleton Lane.
Due to the close proximity to Danes Moss, any heavy modifications to the localized hydrology—forced by the impermeable clay ground conditions—could result in the dewatering and degradation of nearby peat layers, causing structural land instability and severe ecological damage. Furthermore, the loss of mature hedgerows and open fields along the lane will cause irreversible harm to local biodiversity and active wildlife corridors.

Leisure
Penningtons Lane has long been used by dog walkers, runners, walkers, hikers, and should remain a safe haven for families to enjoy.
Need for additional homes
There are currently over 600 empty homes in the Macclesfield area together with many abandoned mills that could be renovated without damaging the environment.

Government guidelines for turning green belt to grey belt land
Failure to Meet Emerging "Grey Belt" Criteria
The application attempts to justify development by exploiting national planning shifts regarding "Grey Belt" land. However, this parcel completely fails the required legal tests:
High Green Belt Contribution: The open land along Penningtons Lane performs a critical Green Belt function by preventing the physical sprawl of Macclesfield from merging into and eroding the historic, rural character of Gawsworth Parish.
Not Degraded Land: This site is not a neglected, obsolete, or brownfield space. It is a functional, scenic green corridor. Developing it would constitute a direct, unmitigated loss of open countryside.
Overdevelopment and Lack of Local Infrastructure
Local services in Gawsworth and South Macclesfield—specifically GP surgeries, local schools, and drainage networks—are already stretched to absolute capacity. This proposal offers no proportionate, guaranteed infrastructure upgrades to offset the strain it will place on the community, violating the "Golden Rules" of sustainable development.

We urge the council to remain consistent with its decision on application 21/4113M, where development on this immediate parcel was rejected due to lack of information regarding local peat hydrology, site contamination stability, and environmental infrastructure failure, together with the above

Kind regards,

Joanne Passingham
[REDACTED]