Unpopular homes plan set to be scaled back

DEEPLY unpopular and environmentally damaging plans to develop Danes Moss will not now go ahead in their current format, Cheshire East Council has confirmed.

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The authority will withdraw the raft of planning applications that would have created the South Macclesfield Development Area (SMDA), which was to include 950 homes, a link road, new school, retail and offices.

It is believed increasing eco concerns particularly damage to climate change, weapon peat, rising construction costs and huge opposition from Danes Moss Trust protesters are the main reasons.

A council report makes it clear that the intention is still for some development to happen, but on a smaller scale.

Cheshire East has already invested £3.283m borrowed money in the now aborted project.

As part of this arrangement if there was to be no development this money would no longer be considered capital expenditure, but revenue expenditure and thus need paying back quicker.

The next stage is for the council to spend £150,000 on consultants for 'a review of the alternative options' of how to press ahead. Tom Eccles, from the Danes Moss Trust protest group, hopes this now leads to a 'conversation between everyone involved' the trust, council, Barratt's (the developer involved), Cheshire Wildlife Trust, RSPB, and the local community.

He said: "It is good news, it means that the worst plans aren't going to happen.