A reserved matters application for 16 houses in Alsager submitted by an applicant who wanted to build 750 houses on White Moss Quarry has been met with opposition.

Lee Dawkin, of Renew Land Developments Limited, has submitted a reserved matters application relating to the outline residential development for 16 dwellings at land adjacent to 68, Close Lane, Alsager.

Renew Land Developments in contract with Persimmon Homes had previously submitted two separate planning applications for 750 homes to be built on neighbouring White Moss Quarry, which is owned by Mr D Beecroft.

Outline planning permission for 350 homes on part of the quarry, which is included in Cheshire East's Local Plan was granted in 2015.

But a reserved matters application was refused in July 2018 and a further resubmitted application was "finally disposed of" by Cheshire East in July 2020, due to a "clear lack of any active intention" from Persimmon Homes to "provide any further information or updated plans" in connection with the application.

Previous plans for 400 houses on the other side of the quarry, which does not form part of Cheshire East's Local Plan were thrown out at a planning appeal in August 2017.

Mr Dawkin is now seeking approval from Cheshire East for appearance, landscape and scale as well as the discharge of associated planning and section 106 contributions relating to the outline planning approval on the site at 68 Close Lane.

However, the plans have received 20 objections from Alsager residents, who feel the scheme would have flooding, highway and infrastructure implications on the neighbouring area.

Submitting their objections via Cheshire East's online planning portal, a Sinclair Avenue resident said: "The land is currently green field. Site access is on a bend on Close Lane which is quite narrow.

"Additional vehicle movements from the proposed development will contribute towards the high

volume of traffic using Close Lane.

"I consider it criminal that mature trees have already been felled to clear the land for the proposed development when planning permission hasn't been approved."

As the adjacent resident to the application, the homeowner of 66 Close Lane was "very concerned" about the latest application at the site and they felt the "long-standing" issue of flooding had been ignored.

Their objection added: "The fundamental problem is the high level of groundwater which is flooding my garden in the winter months.

"This will be aggravated by surface run-off from the new estate especially if the ground levels are raised.

"When the remaining large trees are cut down this will also have an additional effect of raising the groundwater."

The plans show a "small" pond which the homeowner at 66 Close Lane felt was "clearly nothing more than a wishful afterthought" because no groundwater survey had been carried out.

They felt that a survey needed to be carried out in December or January when the groundwater levels were at their maximum.

Their objection concluded: "The application is labelled 'Reserved Matters' but since it does not address any of the major site issues it is effectively a blank piece of paper."

A resident who lives at 63, Close Lane, who also objected to the plan, said: "I have been a resident of Close Lane for the last 30 years, so I have seen it change from a fairly quiet road to an extremely busy one.

"With the already existing developments there is a

persistently occurring high level of traffic up and down the road at all times.

"I reside on the bend opposite the proposed development whereby drivers do not abide by the speed limits which creates dangerous conditions in the residential area, as a consequence there have been multiple accidents.

"This would only be enhanced by the introduction of a multitude of new residential properties and the congestion that they bring alongside them particularly when considering that there is only one access point.

"Therefore, I strongly object to the proposed planning application as the surge in traffic would be a safety risk to not only the pre-existing occupants but the new ones as well."

Pembroke Homes and Nicola Jane Beach gained outline permission to build 16 homes on land to the rear of 68, Close Lane, Alsager, in March 2018, when Cheshire East Council did not have a five-year housing land supply.

However, Pembroke Homes and Nicola Jane Beach who attempted to remove a planning condition compelling them to contribute more than £32,000 for primary education decided to withdraw their application.

The application site falls within the Haslington ward.

Through delegated powers, Cheshire East planning officers are expected to make a decision on the application by 31st May.