Overview CS
Moor Lane is a proposal for a new farmstead-inspired neighbourhood on the western edge of Wilmslow, on land between Moor Lane and the open fields towards Lindow Moss. The scheme is being brought forward by Cityside, with a design team led by Ollier Smurthwaite Architects and Reform Landscape Architecture. The emerging proposals include a mix of new homes set within orchards, meadows, edible gardens and new walking routes.
This consultation is an opportunity for local residents, community groups and stakeholders to view the proposals at an early stage and help shape them before any planning application is submitted.
A site on the edge of town and countryside
The site lies on Moor Lane, on the western edge of Wilmslow. It wraps around the existing Yates Grove development and looks out towards open farmland and the wider landscape beyond. It is currently in agricultural use, with established field boundaries, hedgerows, a small number of timber structures and a bungalow in the south-east corner.
Historic mapping shows the land in field use since at least the 19th century. The surrounding area still reflects Wilmslow’s rural origins, with nearby brick cottages, farmhouses and Moorlane House forming part of that local character.
Today, the site reads as a transition between the urban edge of Wilmslow and the distinctive peatland landscape of Lindow Moss.
For a number of years, Cheshire East Council have been unable to demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing land, with its latest published position identifying only 3.3 years’ supply, following a period in which the Council has repeatedly had to address housing delivery and supply shortfalls. Against the Government’s clear objective of delivering 1.5 million homes over the current Parliament, that persistent shortfall is significant; in circumstances such as these, the development of homes within the Green Belt is not inappropriate in principle. However, there are certain circumstances where residential development in the Green Belt is “not inappropriate” in principle, including where a site constitutes “Grey Belt”.
Green Belt is intended to serve several purposes, including:
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Preventing large built-up areas from sprawling outwards;
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Stopping neighbouring towns from merging into one another; and,
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Protecting the setting and special character of historic towns.
The site therefore falls within the definition of Grey Belt. It is therefore well placed to help meet the real and growing need for new homes, including affordable homes, in Cheshire East. The site lies close to Wilmslow town centre and its everyday services, and early work on ecology, drainage and transport is shaping proposals that respect its landscape setting and its relationship with the nearby Lindow Moss.
Why Moor Lane is being considered
Shape the future of Moor Lane, Wilmslow
The Moor Lane development project thrives on community feedback. Your insights help us design a sustainable development that truly reflects the needs of local residents and future generations.