Planners scrap housing ban

8:50am Thursday 29th May 2008

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PLANNERS have officially scrapped a policy that restricted the building of new homes.

Macclesfield Borough Council's cabinet decided last week to accept Government guidelines and allow double the number of houses to be built.

The effect was immediately felt in Knutsford.

A planning committee approved proposals for 14 new homes in Norbury's Yard.

Jamie Macrae, a borough councillor representing Mobberley and the cabinet member for planning, said the previous policy had been a success.

He said the restrictions had forced developers to give priority to new affordable housing, special needs' accommodation and care homes.

"We have managed to meet a number of local and specialist housing needs at the same time," he said.

"But to meet the new regional requirement we have to double the number of houses permitted, so we have to lift the moratorium."

Developers' proposals will now be assessed on the suitability of their sites for housing.

Priority will be given to brownfield sites with access to services, facilities and shops.

"We want to encourage developers and landowners to assess their own sites and schemes to see how they meet planning objectives before submitting their applications to the council," said planning boss John Knight.

"Applications should meet the housing needs of the borough, be sited in appropriate locations, make effective and efficient use of land and be of high quality design.