Protect Butterfly Bank
COMMUNITY GROUP
Latest News
Jones Homes submitted a request to Cheshire East Council (CEC) to AVOID having to perform an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This can be viewed on the CEC Planning Portal (# 25/1075/EIA).
The Protect Butterfly Bank committee and the community responded spectacularly, in a very short space of time, resulting in an excess of 160 objections being filed on the CEC Planning Portal.
Wilmslow Town Council (WTC) discussed the EIA application at one of their meetings on Monday 2nd June, where this committee represented the community group to present to WTC why we believe Jones Homes must not be allowed to proceed without performing a full EIA.
The conclusion of the discussion was that WTC agreed unanimously with us that CEC should issue a negative screen opinion such that Jones Homes must perform a full EIA.
We now await the CEC decision…
About This Community Group
Jones Homes are preparing a planning application for the development of up to 120 new homes on the land around Butterfly Bank, South Wilmslow.
We are encouraging all residents in the area to help contribute towards the protection of this Greenbelt land and fight against the proposal.
This development and many other planned developments in the surrounding areas will cause significant issues to our community.
The current government plans have created an extremely challenging environment for local council planning offices whilst providing opportunities for developers to push through applications.
Butterfly Bank and the surrounding land is Greenbelt land which has previously been characterised as making a significant contribution to the Greenbelt by previous local plans.
If this development, 25 acres (~10 hectares) of prime greenbelt farmland is approved, then the surrounding 20 acres (~8 hectares) of green fields, forming the boundary between the Alderley Edge and Wilmslow, will, over the next 10-20 years, also be destroyed and developed as the Greenbelt Status will no longer exist.
Protect Butterfly Bank Members
How Can You Help?
Join This Community
To keep updated as things develop, consider joining our community to receive the latest news and information and to potentially participate in any calls to action that we may have. If you have skills / knoweldge of the planning process or believe you can contribute in any manner, then please do not hesitate to contact us on hello@protectbutterflybank.co.uk or use the Contact Us form below.
Raise Awareness
Share this website on your socials or by other means. Emery, the planning company who is acting on behalf of Jones Homes performed a public consultation in Feb / March of this year – This appeared to only be communicated direcly (i.e. via a leaflet) to a handful of houses in the immediate area. Many people we have spoken to on neighbouring roads who will be affected directly or indirectly by these plans were completely unaware that Jones Homes had even purchased the land let alone in the process of submitting planning applications. Its possible plans could be submitted as soon as June 2025, and if approved, the first spade could be in the ground in early 2026.
Donation
Jones Homes are professional developers, and therefore their planning application will require a professional response. This is likely to have a cost associated with it, but not individually substantial should a sufficient number of residents make a donation. If you are interested in making a donation then simply click here or one of MAKE DONATION buttons on this website.
Communicate Your Opinion
Planning is a formal process and Cheshire East Council (or Planning Inspector if CEC reject it and the developer appeals) will rely only on planning arguments. However, there is still value is writing to your MP, the local councillers and Cheshire East Councillers. If you would like guidance on how to do this in the most effective manner, then please contact us on hello@protectbutterflybank.co.uk or use the Contact Us form below.
About Butterfly Bank
Butterfly Bank is a notable feature on the south side of Wilmslow which is a woodland comprising many ancient Oak trees, of which butterflies abounded the south facing slope – hence its name.
The Greenbelt land that surrounds Butterfly Bank is a gently undulating, pastoral landscape of medium sized irregular fields bounded by Hawthorn hedgerows with abundant hedgerow trees, principally Oak.
The fields are used for farming, and many a walker or rambler frequent the walkway through Butterfly Bank from Stockton Farm through to Alderley Edge.
It forms part of the Chonar Landscape as defined by the Wilmsow Landscape Character Assessment.
In the 2015 ARUP assessment (Page c127, Land Parceel C127) assessed the land as making a ‘Significant Contribution to the Greebelt’.
About The Proposed Development
Jones Homes’ intention is to construct up to 120 dwellings (of which 45% would be defined as ‘affordable’ (80% of market value) on approximaely 5 hectars of this productive agricultural Greenbelt land.
Their current proposal, outlined by Emery Planning, would be accessed via Welton Drive with walking / cycling access via Stockton Road.
This development and many other planned developments in the surrounding areas will cause significant issues to our community.
It is anticipated that a full planning application will be submitted in June.
Join us in standing up for nature and preserving this vital green space !
We need your support to fund legal advise, planning assessments, and a campaign to challenge this development.
Every donation, no matter how small, helps us fight to keep Butterfly Bank safe for future generations.
New Houses
Putting additional strain on existing poor infrastructure.
The postman’s job is increasing by the day – but their remuneration isn’t !!
More Cars (Minimum)
Increasing the challenges of driving / parking down the already congested roads of Welton and Stockton with their restricted / difficult junctions on to Knutsford Road. Stockton Road & Chesham Road are likely to become a ‘rat run’ and its possible the council may impose parking restrictions preventing parking outside your home.
More Residents (Minimum)
Requiring access to health care, schooling & public services.
Did your child get a place at the High School?
19% miss out on first choice of Wilmslow High School, wilmslow.co.uk
Fewer Hectars of Beautiful Greenbelt Farming Land
Order for development was (and should ideally still be):
1. Safeguarded (for building, see local plan)
2. Brown Field (e.g. Royal London Site)
3. Brownfield
4. Greenfield
There is now the concept of Greybelt
(Greenbelt can be considered Greybelt)
Join This Community
Help Protect Wilmslow’s Greenbelt Land
Useful Contacts
This Community
hello@protectbutterflybank.co.uk
What’s App Group
This Community Committee
Chris Cook, Stockton Road
Chrrisy Burden, Welton Drive,
David Turnbull (Chairman), Chesham Road
Graham Vickors, Welton Drive
Hugh Burden, Welton Drive
Mike Mitchel, Welton Drive
Nick Laird, Stockton Road
Peter Croome, Welton Drive
Patrick Colin, Chesham Road
Tony Curran, Welton Drive
Councillors
David Jefferay, Chair of Environment and Community
Tim Higgings, Wilmslow West, Town Mayor,
Toby Tritschler, Wilmslow West, Deupty Town Mayor
Mark Goldsmith, Wilmslow West & Chair of Highways
Michael Gorman, Wilmslow West, CEC Deputy Leader
Jon Newell, Vice Chair of Planning Committee
Craig Browne, Alderely Edge
MP for Tatton
Esther McVey
Esther and her team are aware of this and have offered to assist when appropriate.
Useful Documents
Protect Butterfly Bank – A4 Leaflet
Download A4 Leaflet
Resident Guidance on how to object to the EIA avoidance application
Download EIA Objection Guidance
Formal EIA Objection Documents
Cover Letter
Primary Objection
Addendum
Useful Information
emeryplanning.com (On behalf of Jones Homes)
Land of Welton Drive and Stockton Road Public Consultation
wilmslowtowncouncil.gov.uk
Wilmslow’s Countryside: A Landscape Character Assessment
cheshireeast.gov.uk, Updated 215
Green Belt Assessment Update
(The relevant pages of the pdf are 42, 297 (wm28) and 351.)
cheshireeast.gov.uk, Adopted 27th July 2017
Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy 2010-2030
gov.uk, Updated 27th February 2025
Government Guidance on Greenbelt and Greybelt Assessment
wilmslow.co.uk, Friday 14th February 2025
Jones Homes seeks community views on New Wilmslow development proposal
residentsofwilmslow.com
New Housing Developments in Wilmslow
wilmslow.co.uk, 24 March 2025
19% miss out of first choice of Wilmslow High School
CEC Planning Portal – EIA Application
Jones Homes’ request to AVOID doing an EIA
CEC Planning Portal
Cheshire East Planning Portal
This Website
GoFundMe
What’s App
