'An historic opportunity to do something incredible'

CONTROVERSIAL housing plans for a peatland site have been officially withdrawn to the delight of campaigners who told councillors they had a 'historic opportunity to do the right thing by this incredible piece of land.

- BY BELINDA RYAN

The South Macclesfield Development Area (SMDA), which is next to Danes Moss Site of Special Scientific Interest, was allocated for development in the Cheshire East local plan in 2017.

In 2019, outline permission was granted for a scheme which included up to 950 houses and a new link road on the peatland site, which is jointly owned by Cheshire East Council and national housebuilder, Barratt.

As expected, Cheshire East's economy and growth committee agreed the current reserved matters planning applications should be withdrawn.

Thomas Eccles, chair of environmental charity Danes Moss Trust, told the committee: "Danes Moss is an ancient, raised bog.