Press Release 26.11.2021

Chapel-en-le-Frith Parish Council Planning Committee met on 23.11.2021 to discuss application HPK/2019/0028 relating to 83 dwellings that are proposed to be built on green fields adjacent to the A6 in Higher Hallsteads, Dove Holes. The meeting was rescheduled to take place in Dove Holes, to allow village residents to attend and have their say about the development, which initially was passed by High Peak Borough Council Development Control by a narrow margin of 7 votes to 5. However, during the November Chapel-en-le-Frith Parish Council Meeting, it became apparent that the Borough Council had failed to consult the Parish Council on the planned development in 2019, or when plans were resubmitted in 2021. As the Parish Council are a statutory consultee, this was in breach of the planning regulations. Therefore, HPBC overturned the current planning decision and reopened the consultation which is due to close on 6^th December 2021.

There was a strong feeling of opposition from local residents in the planning meeting, which was attended by a significant number of local residents who expressed their outrage and concerns about the previous decision to pass the plans without consultation and also about removing the commercial buildings from the plans, which were part of the 2019 plans.

During the meeting it became apparent that residents of the village were also not consulted about the development in 2021. Correspondence with the Senior Planning Officer at HPBC revealed that although 32 households living immediately adjacent to the proposed planning area were sent a letter in 2019, no households have been consulted during the resubmission in 2021.

Chapel-en-le-Frith Parish Council Planning Committee unanimously opposed the planning application and wish to represent their opposition to this decision by HPBC in the strongest possible terms.

Housing development of this scale would further exceed the continued overdevelopment of the Parish.  Furthermore it is not in accordance with the Neighbourhood Plan which remains valid as an agreed legal document until 2028.  There is already a lack a significant amount of infrastructure in terms of GP and NHS dental services, school places, amenities and off road parking. In Dove Holes, this is exacerbated with no shopping, doctor or dental facilities at all. Agreeing an additional 83 households without any provision for providing these things is not in the interests of the residents of Dove Holes or the rest of the Parish.

Councillors expressed significant concerns relating to the fact that the county council have not adopted the associated roads connected with the planning, due to the plans not meeting the required DCC standards. This would require the roads and streetlighting to be managed by external management companies which would require maintenance fees on top of council tax payments and there is no guarantee of level of service or the quality of the maintenance

There is a significant lack of infrastructure in Dove Holes on a number of levels to accommodate 83 “affordable” houses and the associated increase in congestion with an estimated 166 additional cars to an  area which is adjacent to the A6 which is prone to significant flooding caused by numerous Heavy Goods vehicles and other traffic. There is no provision for electric charging points in the development plans, which has been made a statutory requirement in recent weeks.

Chapel-en-le-Frith Parish Council planning committee want to register their concern of HPBC Planning officers failure to consult and listen to the views of the Parish Council and the residents of Dove Holes.  HPBC Planning Department should take note of public opinion and give HPBC Development Control Committee the opportunity to reconsider this application.  

Comments on the proposal can be made at Planning Applications - High Peak Borough Council