Background

 

South Macclesfield Development Area (SMDA) is a 53 hectare strategic development site at the southern edge of Macclesfield. It is located between Congleton Road and London Road to the south-west of Moss Lane. At present, the site is poor quality scrubland and undeveloped grassed areas. The site also includes a community playing field off Congleton Road and part of the reclamation and skips hire operation near Turf Lane.

 

Over the years, several development proposals have been put forward for SMDA and the western part of the site previously gained outline planning consent for a phased development. However, development proposals for the whole site are now being brought forward to ensure a comprehensive approach to development.

 

SMDA is a priority for Cheshire East Council and is allocated within the adopted Local Plan. The site can accommodate a mix of uses, including new homes, green open space and community facilities, as well as land for a new school and a road linking Congleton Road and London Road.

 

What are the benefits of SMDA?

 

• The site is not within the Green Belt and presents an opportunity to deliver much needed new homes and community infrastructure, whilst preventing development pressure on Green Belt elsewhere in Macclesfield.
• The development will support local jobs. New employment and training opportunities will be created during construction and within the new retail facilities, providing a boost to the local economy.
• The relocation of businesses on Turf Lane, to modern premises on the site, keeps these key employers in Macclesfield.
• Large scale development means a major investment in infrastructure such as transport.
• New homes will generate New Homes Bonus and Council Tax revenue for Cheshire East Council that can be re-invested into local services.
• A new road linking London Road and Congleton Road will ensure integration with the wider area and will reduce the number of HGVs using Moss Lane, whilst helping to ease congestion elsewhere in Macclesfield.

 

What’s happening now?

 

In February 2018, Cheshire East Council was awarded £20 million of government funding to unlock the infrastructure required to deliver new homes in Macclesfield and Crewe. Half of the funding awarded to Cheshire East will go towards a £19.5 million new link road, as part of the South Macclesfield Development Area scheme that was granted planning permission in August 2017 to deliver up to 950 new homes. The new link road will open up the site and improve connectivity around Macclesfield for the community.

 

Outline planning approval for the South Macclesfield Development Area was achieved in January 2019.

 

A Reserved Matters (RM) planning application for Phase 1 of the wider development project has been submitted. Phase 1 relates solely to primary infrastructure works comprising of enabling works, new highways, footpaths/cycleways, public open spaces, ecology areas and associated hard and soft landscaping, drainage and servicing works required to serve the wider SMDA site.

 

For more information about the Reserved Matters planning application, please click here.