Campaigners eye legal challenge over planning approval for 180-home scheme

Campaign leader Steve Buckley said £3,515 had been raised so far in a bid challenge Cheshire East Council over its decision to allow new housing beyond the settlement boundary of Sandbach.

Mr Buckley said the initial £4,00 was needed to “brief a solicitor, receive confirmation of our prospects and issue a legal letter.

“If that is ignored, we need another £5,000 by 17 November to lodge the appeal. If CEC oppose it and continue to court, we might need more, but would have plenty time to raise it at that point.”

He said Sandbach is a historic market town, which has seen housing growth of 37% in the last 15 years, but little or no increased infrastructure.

Cheshire East does not have a five-year housing supply, he said and its planners are “under resourced and risk averse, so very reluctant to refuse speculative planning applications, even if there is good reason to do so”.

Developers were exploiting the situation with live applications “that could see Sandbach grow by around 60% over the 20 year period since 2010”.

Cheshire East has been contacted for comment.

Mark Smulian