Local plan scoping consultation

I am writing to register my formal and strong objection to the considered planning at HENBURY / WHIRLEY / SANDY LANE / BIRTLES ROAD.
While I recognize the need for sustainable housing, this proposal represents an unsustainable and inappropriate intrusion into vital open countryside. I urge the Council to consider very carefully.

1. Severe Impact on Biodiversity and Ecological Networks
The application site forms part of a delicate, interconnected wildlife corridor. The proposed construction will cause irreparable harm to legally protected and priority species known to forage, breed, and commute across this land — including bats, owls, badgers, and Great Crested Newts. The destruction of mature hedgerows, established trees, and natural ponds directly contradicts national and local planning policies aimed at delivering biodiversity net gain and safeguarding established ecological networks.

2. Erosion of Green Belt and Settlement Identity
This plan represents a detrimental cumulative loss of open countryside and threatens the critical Green Belt and settlement separation between Macclesfield, Henbury, and Whirley. Urban sprawl in this location would permanently compromise the distinct open character of the landscape and lead to the unacceptable coalescence of these historic communities.

3. Highway Safety and Severe Traffic Congestion
The local road infrastructure is fundamentally unsuitable for the volume of vehicular traffic this development would generate. Rural and residential routes — including Whirley Road, Sandy Lane, Birtles Road, and Wrigley Lane — already experience severe congestion, narrow pinch points, and visibility constraints. Adding substantial commuter traffic will exacerbate existing bottlenecks, increase road safety risks, and compromise pedestrian safety.

4. Overburdened Local Infrastructure and Public Services
The surrounding public services and physical infrastructure are operating at or near maximum capacity:
• Healthcare & Education: Local GP practices, dental surgeries, schools, and acute services at Macclesfield District General Hospital / A&E are already severely stretched.
• Utilities & Drainage: The proposal introduces significant strain on the local water supply, electricity grid, and waste/recycling collections, alongside heightened concerns regarding foul sewage capacity and surface water drainage/flood risk across the catchment area.

5. Detrimental Impact on Heritage and Historic Landscape
The considered plan would cause substantial harm to the landscape setting and visual amenity of the surrounding countryside. In particular, it directly threatens the rural setting and heritage significance of Whirley Hall (Grade II* Listed), eroding the historic agrarian buffer essential to the character and preservation of this highly significant heritage asset.

This proposal represents unsustainable development that would permanently harm the local environment, heritage assets, highway safety, and community infrastructure.