Local plan scoping consultation

Contamination
Historical intrusive geo-environmental testing within this immediate parcel identified localized traces of asbestos and soil contaminants. Large-scale construction, heavy earthworks, and piling operations risk releasing hazardous airborne fibres into the immediate vicinity of existing residential dwellings on Penningtons Lane. Construction should not be permitted without exhaustive, updated grid-borehole testing and a comprehensive, independently verified Remediation Strategy.

Drainage and Infiltration issues
The site's heavy clay soil structure provides virtually zero natural surface water infiltration. Proceeding with standard soakaways or high-density paving risks massive surface water runoff, which will overwhelm local networks and directly exacerbate localized flooding along Penningtons Lane and towards the nearby watercourses

Ecological factors
Due to the close proximity to Danes Moss, any heavy modifications to the localized hydrology—forced by the impermeable clay ground conditions—could result in the dewatering and degradation of nearby peat layers, causing structural land instability and severe ecological damage. Furthermore, the loss of mature hedgerows and open fields along the lane will cause irreversible harm to local biodiversity and active wildlife corridors.

Leisure
Penningtons Lane has longed been used by dog walkers, runners, walkers, hikers, and should remain a safe haven for families to enjoy.
Need for addition homes
There are currently over 600 empty homes in the Macclesfield are together with many abandoned mills that could be renovated without damaging the environment.

Government guidelines for turning green belt to grey belt land
Failure to Meet Emerging "Grey Belt" Criteria
The application attempts to justify development by exploiting national planning shifts regarding "Grey Belt" land. However, this parcel completely fails the required legal tests:
High Green Belt Contribution: The open land along Penningtons Lane performs a critical Green Belt function by preventing the physical sprawl of Macclesfield from merging into and eroding the historic, rural character of Gawsworth Parish.
Not Degraded Land: This site is not a neglected, obsolete, or brownfield space. It is a functional, scenic green corridor. Developing it would constitute a direct, unmitigated loss of open countryside.
Overdevelopment and Lack of Local Infrastructure
Local services in Gawsworth and South Macclesfield—specifically GP surgeries, local schools, and drainage networks—are already stretched to absolute capacity. This proposal offers no proportionate, guaranteed infrastructure upgrades to offset the strain it will place on the community, violating the "Golden Rules" of sustainable development.

I urge the council to remain consistent with its decision on application 21/4113M, where development on this immediate parcel was rejected due to lack of information regarding local peat hydrology, site contamination stability, and environmental infrastructure failure, together with the above

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you [personal information redacted] concerned about the plans for building in the Penningtons Lane/Thirlmere area of the town

With many hundreds of empty homes in the Macclesfield area, it would seem more appropriate to utilise what we have already as well as disused mills and empty shops that could be turned into accommodation. It is proved to be the case that having families dwelling in towns helps not only to revitalise an area but also to improve anti-social behaviours often witnessed in town centres.

The local services in Gawsworth and Macclesfield eg doctors, dentists, schools as well as drainage networks, sewers, bus services are inadequate currently and stretched to capacity. How would this proposed development be sustainable?
The soil is a heavily clay soil structure which would overwhelm the local networks, thereby exacerbating localised flooding.

There are also ecological factors to consider. The southern part of the proposed development is an intact peatland with a good number of wetland plants and species and other pockets of peatland have been found further down the lane. These are connected to Danes Moss – any modification to the area would result in dewatering and degradation of the Danes Moss peatland. The loss of hedgerows and open fields will cause irreversible damage to local biodiversity and active wildlife corridors.

Historic environmental testing identified localised traces of asbestos. There would need to be extensive and thorough earthworks to ensure operations would not cause release of any harmful chemicals into the air. There would have to be exhaustive updated grid borehole testing and a comprehensive, independently verified Remediation Strategy

Penningtons Lane has long been used by dog walkers, runners, walkers, hikers and should remain a safe haven for families to enjoy

I urge the council to remain constant with its decision on application 21/4113M where development on this immediate parcel was rejected

A petition has been raised very recently and already has nearly 700 signatures in a matter of a couple of weeks

Herewith the link to the petition:

https://c.org/whXrmckjrk

Please read the petition and view the grave concerns we local residents have about this matter