Shavington Triangle homes decision 'disastrous' (From Crewe Guardian)
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Shavington Triangle homes decision 'disastrous'
7:00am Saturday 2nd March 2013 in News By Matthew Taylor
Cheshire East Council planners have finally given the go-ahead for 400 houses to be built on 17 hectares of farmland between Shavington and the village of Wybunbury
HUNDREDS of new houses will built on fields in Shavington, under plans that locals believe will irreparably damage the character of a neighbouring middle ages village.
After deferring the decision twice, Cheshire East Council planners finally gave the go-ahead for 400 houses to be built on 17 hectares of farmland between Shavington and the village of Wybunbury.
A local councillor has described the decision as ‘disastrous’ for residents in the area.
Houses will be built on land south of Newcastle Road, commonly known as the Shavington Triangle.
The area lies 400m north of the protected Wybunbury Moss nature reserve - a site of Specific Scientific Interest for its rare bogland habitat.
Wybunbury is an ancient village dating from the middle ages. Its famous Leaning Tower of St Chad’s was stabilised in 1832 using pioneering techniques later applied to the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Hundreds of letters of objection to the scheme were registered against the Mactaggart and Mickel proposals.
But CEC’s Strategic Planning Board gave the scheme the green light at a meeting last Wednesday.
The 42 hectare masterplan incorporate access roads, cycleways, footpaths, a play area and a community ‘hub’ building. There are also plans for a 400sqm food store.
Mactaggart and Mickel argue that the homes are necessary to meet demand, and that care had been taken in the design process to complement the existing environment.
Among more than 50 conditions for the scheme’s go ahead, was a demand on the developers to underwrite the cost of a new bus service between Crewe and Nantwich via Shavington.
Also required were an outdoor gym, multi use games area, allotments, community woodland and a contribution of up to £705,000 for education based on the number of houses allocated to Wybunbury.
Independent borough councillor for Shavington, David Brichill, said: “It is a disastrous decision not only for the people of Stock and Dig lanes but the whole of Shavington where standards of living will be seriously downgraded. It could also kill off one of only two sites of scientific interest in the county.”
