Tatton Estate pledges to help Knutsford raise its game

THE man at the helm of Cheshire East’s largest landowner, Tatton Estate, is aiming to help give a multi-million pound shot arm to a little-known area of deprivation fringing the affluent town of Knutsford.

Henry Books, whose family has owned the Estate since 1957, is managing director of Tatton Estate Management.

More than 1,000 people work and live on the Estate.

As well as its many rural properties, Tatton also owns much of the property in and around the town centre of Knutsford, where Brooks’ management office is based.

Although Tatton Estate Management is not a developer, “we do get involved in development”, says Brooks.

Committed to promoting attractive mixed-use residential, retail and commercial zones, Brooks has pledged to bring forward a planning allocation for the wider benefit of the Longridge area of Knutsford – part of Chancellor George Osborne’s Tatton constituency.

“Longridge was really Wythenshawe overspill,” said Brooks. “Most people in Knutsford don’t even realise they’ve got 3,000 to 4,000 people living just outside the town who have poor access to shops, sports, amenities and jobs.

“Our aim is to create development that could support a bit of a high street with some pubs, restaurants and shops, which should make it an even better place to live for existing and future residents alike.

“We are hoping our development can not only make it better for the long term, but it can uplift the whole town.”

However, Brooks also issued a rallying call to Cheshire East Council and other potential partners to help improve the area.

“We start off from a very idealist point of view where we want to do the best we possibly can,” he said. “But you can’t do it on your own. So you need help from the local authority, neighbouring landowners and other community groups.

“Because of the housing shortage at the moment, every town in the country is going to have to grow.

“Knutsford is a relatively small town, but it punches well above its weight in terms of its reputation and desirability – unfortunately, also in house prices and affordability.”

Brooks said Tatton’s core business was property rental, “but we’re about trying to get really good tenants and occupiers in to help contribute to the dynamism of the community”.

He pointed to the US-based Tesla electric car company which occupies one of the Tatton properties in Knutsford town centre.

 “That’s brought a real buzz to the town,” he said. “We’ve also managed to get Topps Tiles to open its bespoke boutique outlet there.”

Sainsbury’s has increased footfall in the area and Brooks said his company was working to get another “really good trader” to help expand the town centre.

“We’re conscious of the fact that Knutsford’s going to have 1,000 more houses in the next 20 years and it’s going to need more shops and community facilities.”

Brooks was also keen to emphasise he wants to work in partnership with the local community and Cheshire East Council, and, in keeping with many property specialists wants the planning process to be speeded up.

But Cheshire East might have pre-empted his message with the announcement of the launch of a new planning support team to boost jobs and investment.

The new initiative is for development and expansion of the new Priority Planning Applications (PPA) service.

The premium ‘fast-track’ service will be for significant, major planning applications – from initial inquiry to submission for planning decision – and provide a ‘seamless service’, cutting through unnecessary delays.

The aim of the paid-for service will be to ensure major investment and job creation in Cheshire East does not suffer unnecessary delays.  

The Council says it will also enable additional resources to be brought in to deal with the large number of major applications submitted to Cheshire East.

Cheshire East says the introduction of the new process does not necessarily mean that these applications will be permitted, as they will continue to be determined on their individual merits, in accordance with Council policy, by elected members of independent planning committees.

The criteria for eligible applications for PPA service support would be projects which create more than 200 jobs; build more than 500 houses; are Council disposal applications for major sites, or which unlock significant sites; and release grant aid, in a small number of exceptional circumstances.

In response to the Cheshire East Council announcement, Brooks said: “It is essential that communities and parties delivering much needed new homes and jobs have access to fully informed and timely planning advice and decision making. 

“As the largest private landowner in Cheshire East, the Tatton Estate would strongly support any measure that would facilitate members and officers further engaging with applicants, communities and applications themselves.

“This would facilitate high quality, genuinely sustainable growth.  In addition we would like local authorities across the country like Cheshire East to develop additional resources, training and support for members and officers for applications of all sizes and not just the largest ones.”