In 1.1 it should be recognised that Cheshire East also has a World Heritage Site (Jodrell Bank) and a number of Scheduled Ancient Monuments (eg Bowl Barrows)

Wilmslow Town Council wishes to have a conservation area declared around Dean Row Chapel. Acting on CEC advice a specialist report was commissioned and paid for. This was submitted to CEC for action over 12 months ago. We have been advised that it not expected to be considered for two years - assuming available resource comes available.
In the absence of action can the draft be included in the protected assets lists?

The draft Local List SPD is supported strongly overall. Requests for clarification or further exemplars are offered in the relevant sections in the draft SPD.

Dear Mr Evans

First Draft Local List Supplementary Planning Document

Thank you for your consultation request on the above dated and received by Natural England on 6th May 2025.

Natural England is a non-departmental public body. Our statutory purpose is to ensure that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced, and managed for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development.

Our remit includes protected sites and landscapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, soils, protected species, landscape character, green infrastructure and access to and enjoyment of nature.

Natural England does not have any specific comments on the Local List Supplementary Planning Document for Cheshire East Council.

The lack of comment from Natural England should not be interpreted as a statement that there are no impacts on the natural environment. Other bodies and individuals may wish to make comments that might help the Local Planning Authority (LPA) to fully take account of any environmental risks and opportunities relating to this document.

Strategic Environmental Assessment/Habitats Regulations Assessment
A SPD requires a Strategic Environmental Assessment only in exceptional circumstances as set out in the Planning Practice Guidance here. While SPDs are unlikely to give rise to likely significant effects on European Sites, they should be considered as a plan under the Habitats Regulations in the same way as any other plan or project. If your SPD requires a Strategic Environmental Assessment or Habitats Regulation Assessment, you are required to consult us at certain stages as set out in the Planning Practice Guidance.

If you disagree with our assessment of this proposal as low risk, or should the proposal be amended in a way which significantly affects its impact on the natural environment, then in accordance with Section 4 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, please consult Natural England again.

For any further consultations on your plan, please contact: consultations@naturalengland.org.uk

Yours sincerely

Sharon Jenkinsn Consultation Team, Natural England

Historic England is the Government's statutory adviser on all matters relating to the historic environment in England. We are a non-departmental public body established under the National Heritage Act 1983 and sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). We champion and protect England's historic places, providing expert advice to local planning authorities, developers, owners and communities to help ensure our historic environment is properly understood, enjoyed and cared for.

We welcome the Council drafting a local list for the area. Local lists are one way in which local heritage - including buildings, monuments, sites, places, areas, historic parks and gardens or other designed landscapes - can be formally identified, SO that their significance can be taken into account in planning applications affecting the building or site and its setting.

Historic England has produced an Advice Note (HEAN 7) on local listing, which is available here: Local Heritage Listing: Identifying and Conserving Local Heritage. This advice supports communities and local authorities in introducing a local list in their area; or making changes to an existing list. It encourages a consistent and accountable approach to the identification and management of local heritage assets when selected by uniform criteria. Such a list will help all - including community groups, owners, developers and local planning authorities - to understand local development opportunities and constraints.

This Advice Note also gives information on the relationship between local lists and Historic Environment Records; how best to update such lists, particularly when heritage assets not on the list are identified through the decision-making process for planning applications; and stresses the usefulness of innovative ways of creating and maintaining lists. As the intention is for local planning authorities to be clear how the list will inform their decision-making on heritage assets, this note stresses the importance of local lists being published on local planning authorities' websites.

We also recommend that you seek advice from the Council's specialist staff involved with conservation/ heritage both in the local authority and Cheshire archaeological staff. They are best placed to provide information on the Historic Environment Record and advise on local historic environment issues and priorities.

In terms of the detail of Cheshire East's draft List, we encourage you to follow the guidance set out in our Advice Note, particularly in terms of the process of preparing of a local list, and the content of the descriptions of non-designated heritage assets identified within the list. Paragraph 12 of HEAN 7 is clear that the more information that can be provided within a description about the significance of an asset and the reasons for its inclusion on the local list, the more effective its identification as a non-designated heritage asset will be.

Going forward, we would encourage you to follow HEAN 7 Paragraph 13, which advises that it is good practice to have a relevant policy in your Local Plan (and/ or Neighbourhood Plan) that sets out how proposals affecting the heritage assets on your list will be considered.

Thank you for providing us with an opportunity to comment on your draft Local List.