168-home Wilmslow development backed despite drainage concerns
Plans for 168 homes off Dean Row Road in Wilmslow have been backed by Cheshire East councillors, although developers have been pressed to resolve outstanding drainage problems link
By Cheshire Live
Plans for 168 new homes in Wilmslow have been backed by councillors following months of concern over flooding and drainage around an earlier phase of the development.
Cheshire East Council’s Strategic Planning Board resolved to approve the scheme on land off Dean Row Road, subject to conditions and the completion of a Section 106 agreement.
The application, submitted jointly by Jones Homes and Taylor Wimpey, would extend the existing Heathfield Farm development and covers around nine hectares of land between Dean Row Road, Cross Lane and Browns Lane.
Councillors voted eight in favour, one against and two abstained.
The proposal had previously been deferred after members raised a series of concerns, with flooding and drainage among the most significant issues.
At the earlier meeting in July, councillors heard that six different areas had experienced flooding since the first phase of Heathfield Farm was developed.
The application returned to the planning board after further work on drainage as well as construction access, trees and hedgerows, cycling provision and infrastructure contributions.
Guy Metcalfe, representing the lead local flood authority, told the latest meeting that there were still outstanding measures relating to drainage from the first phase.
He said steps had been taken to deal directly with the developer over those matters.
The council’s assessment examined concerns about changing water flows since Heathfield Farm was built, including the culverted watercourse downstream of the development near Wilmslow Academy.
Measures considered as part of the drainage work include replacing a collapsed culvert and increasing the size of a pipe from 225mm to 300mm.
Speaking on behalf of the applicant, Brian O’Connor said the drainage strategy for the new development had been rigorously assessed by the relevant authorities and that there was no objection from the flood authority.
Despite accepting the technical assessment for the new scheme, councillors made clear that they wanted the outstanding problems associated with the earlier development addressed.
Members urged the developer to act quickly over the remaining drainage work, with one calling on it to “pull its finger out”.
The development will provide a mixture of one to five-bedroom homes.
Thirty per cent of the scheme is proposed as affordable housing, amounting to 51 properties.
Jones Homes is expected to build 80 of the 168 homes, comprising 56 properties for private sale and 24 affordable homes for social rent or shared ownership.
The development is also expected to include green spaces, footpaths and children’s play areas, while homes built by Jones Homes are planned to use air-source heat pumps.
Developer contributions will be secured through a Section 106 agreement, with funding expected for infrastructure including education, sports facilities, allotments and open space.
The Dean Row Road land is classed as safeguarded land in Cheshire East’s Local Plan and had originally been intended to meet potential development needs beyond 2030.
However, changes to national planning policy and Cheshire East’s shortage of deliverable housing land have altered the planning balance.
The council currently calculates that it has around a 3.3-year supply of deliverable housing sites, below the five-year level required under national planning policy.
Planning officers therefore recommended approval despite the site’s safeguarded status.
The Dean Row Road scheme was considered at the same meeting as a separate proposal for 125 homes off Cumber Lane in Wilmslow, which councillors also backed.
Together, the two developments could eventually provide 293 additional homes around the town.
Approval by the planning board does not mean construction can begin immediately.
The Dean Row Road application remains subject to the completion of the required legal agreement and planning conditions before final permission can be issued.
Jones Homes has said it hopes to complete the planning agreement and begin work on the site, with its first properties potentially becoming available in summer 2027.