Controversy persists over elevated housing development

A disagreement concerning a housing development constructed at an excessive elevation continues without resolution, despite years of grievances from neighboring residents. Individuals residing adjacent to Persimmon Homes’ Pottery Gardens development in Cheadle, Staffordshire, reported that their properties were being overlooked because new residences were erected on ground elevated 2.4m (7.8 ft) beyond the anticipated level. The developer, Persimmon, has engaged in discussions with local residents to address the problem. On Wednesday, the planning committee of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council instructed the developer to revisit its plans and propose a resolution acceptable to the neighbors. Persimmon had submitted an application to modify the estate’s initial planning permission, which was approved in 2020. These proposed changes involved adjusting the site’s configuration and incorporating a retaining wall between the development and the adjacent lower-lying properties. An earlier proposal to amend their initial designs was turned down in March 2023, leading to the developer being directed to consult with residents. Subsequently, the developer has only managed to secure an agreement with a portion of the impacted residents residing in Ness Grove and Ayr Road. The planning committee expressed dissatisfaction with the proposal of constructing a retaining wall incrementally, citing Persimmon’s failure to gain the consensus of all residents. Chris Kershaw, development director at Persimmon Homes North West, informed the committee that the company would persist in its endeavors to devise a solution to the issue that would be acceptable to all neighboring residents. Concurrently, planning officer Ben Haywood stated to the committee that the matter of floor levels had been finalized and could not be re-examined. However, Adrian Milward, an affected resident from Froghall Road, maintained that this aspect was crucial to the entire situation. He noted that he was in the fourth year of his grievance against Persimmon and advocated for an independent planning authority to review the application. He questioned, “How can you build a storey higher on someone’s level boundary, and that be acceptable? It’s got to be reviewed.” He further asserted, “We’re running a two-tier system here at the moment. Large developers are getting carte blanche and building what they want, local residents are working within the planning constraints.” Last year, resident Tina Cross commented that individuals on upper floors of the new residences could observe her while she was on her bed. She stated, “The houses have been built too high and too close, invading our privacy.” Committee chair Peter Wilkinson remarked, “As it stands we’re not happy with the proposals. I think it needs to be deferred, and all the demands of the residents who have been affected – we need one solution.” The committee cast a vote to postpone the application, enabling Persimmon to proceed with discussions with the residents. This report was compiled by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers local councils and other public service bodies. For updates, follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.