Cheshire East has granted planning permission for a second time for a zoo near Holmes Chapel after campaigners won a legal challenge to have the previous decision overturned.

Seven members of the strategic planning board (SPB) yesterday (Wednesday) voted in favour of the application from Zoo2U for the zoo to be based on land at The Orchards Farm next to Bidlea Dairy on Twemlow Lane, with one councillor abstaining.

In July the council's southern planning committee had voted unanimously to approve the proposal, against planning officers' recommendations, but that permission was quashed following a legal challenge from animal rights campaigners.

The campaigners had argued that the committee, in July, had reached a different view on the application of the same policies in relation to materially the same planning application that had previously been refused in 2022.

Yesterday's decision was made by a committee of different councillors.

They approved the application saying the circumstances of the site had changed since 2022 because permission had since been granted for the dairy next door subsequent to the 2022 application.

They said the buildings would have a limited impact on the openness of the countryside, coupled with additional planting to protect the openness.

The SPB also said the proposal would bring benefits for the rural economy.

Four people turned up to speak in favour of the zoo, including Haslington councillor Steve Edgar (Con) , who recused himself from the committee for this item and so did not vote.

Cllr Edgar told the planning board the zoo 'offers jobs and training, local economic advantages, supports farm diversity and recreational green space'.

Cllr Steve Edgar. (Photo: Cheshire East)

He said the animals had been bred in captivity 'they are well fed, well cared for and they are loved'.

No objectors turned up to the meeting.

Committee member Heather Seddon (Congleton, Lab) kicked-off the debate saying: "I think the balance is in favour in terms of economics in the area, the educational aspects, there's hedgerows around the perimeter, plenty of trees, diversification of the farm business, so I think there are a lot of positives for the proposal."

Cllr Lesley Smetham (Gawsworth, Con) said: "I always want to follow our policies… so it's a real difficult one… but these applicants want to bring back our own lost wildlife in terms of insects as well as the larger stuff."

Cllr Hannah Moss (Mobberley, Ind) said: "It's in our gift to support local farms diversifying and providing incomes, education for children.

Melissa Mews with meerkats and one of the tortoises at the zoo. (Photo: Belinda Ryan)

"Too many children are sat inside… and stuff like this should be welcomed in my opinion."

She moved the application be approved and this was seconded by Cllr Anthony Harrison (Chelford, Con).

Knutsford councillor Stewart Gardiner (Con) said he was sympathetic to the officers' position in recommending the application for refusal 'but we have to look at the facts before us'.

Cllr Stewart Gardiner. (Photo: Cheshire East)

He said: "It is to all intents and purposes an expansion of a farm diversification of which the ice cream parlour is also part and that has, since the original application [in 2022], been granted permission.

"The applicants told us the size and scale and nature of buildings proposed is in the interests of the animals that will be housed there, so therefore the size of those buildings is effectively fixed."

The application was approved with conditions.

After the meeting, delighted zoo owner Melissa Mews said: "We're made up, overwhelmed, really, really happy with that."