On the condition that Traditional Architecture Design Codes are used

FAO Greg Woolridge

Given the scope of the proposals, National Highways anticipates minimal impact to the SRN and therefore raises no objection/comment to the Weston and Crewe Green Neighbourhood Plans.

Kind regards,

Danielle

Thank you for consulting Sport England on the above neighbourhood plan.

Government planning policy, within the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), identifies how the planning system can play an important role in facilitating social interaction and creating healthy, inclusive communities. Encouraging communities to become more physically active through walking, cycling, informal recreation and formal sport plays an important part in this process. Providing enough sports facilities of the right quality and type in the right places is vital to achieving this aim. This means that positive planning for sport, protection from the unnecessary loss of sports facilities, along with an integrated approach to providing new housing and employment land with community facilities is important.

Therefore, it is essential that the neighbourhood plan reflects and complies with national planning policy for sport as set out in the NPPF with particular reference to Pars 103 and 104. It is also important to be aware of Sport England’s statutory consultee role in protecting playing fields and the presumption against the loss of playing field land. Sport England’s playing fields policy is set out in our Playing Fields Policy and Guidance document.
https://www.sportengland.org/how-we-can-help/facilities-and-planning/planning-for-sport#playing_fields_policy

Sport England provides guidance on developing planning policy for sport and further information can be found via the link below. Vital to the development and implementation of planning policy is the evidence base on which it is founded.
https://www.sportengland.org/how-we-can-help/facilities-and-planning/planning-for-sport#planning_applications

Sport England works with local authorities to ensure their Local Plan is underpinned by robust and up to date evidence. In line with Par 104 of the NPPF, this takes the form of assessments of need and strategies for indoor and outdoor sports facilities. A neighbourhood planning body should look to see if the relevant local authority has prepared a playing pitch strategy or other indoor/outdoor sports facility strategy. If it has then this could provide useful evidence for the neighbourhood plan and save the neighbourhood planning body time and resources gathering their own evidence. It is important that a neighbourhood plan reflects the recommendations and actions set out in any such strategies, including those which may specifically relate to the neighbourhood area, and that any local investment opportunities, such as the Community Infrastructure Levy, are utilised to support their delivery.

Where such evidence does not already exist then relevant planning policies in a neighbourhood plan should be based on a proportionate assessment of the need for sporting provision in its area. Developed in consultation with the local sporting and wider community any assessment should be used to provide key recommendations and deliverable actions. These should set out what provision is required to ensure the current and future needs of the community for sport can be met and, in turn, be able to support the development and implementation of planning policies. Sport England’s guidance on assessing needs may help with such work.
http://www.sportengland.org/planningtoolsandguidance

If new or improved sports facilities are proposed Sport England recommend you ensure they are fit for purpose and designed in accordance with our design guidance notes.
http://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/tools-guidance/design-and-cost-guidance/

Any new housing developments will generate additional demand for sport. If existing sports facilities do not have the capacity to absorb the additional demand, then planning policies should look to ensure that new sports facilities, or improvements to existing sports facilities, are secured and delivered. Proposed actions to meet the demand should accord with any approved local plan or neighbourhood plan policy for social infrastructure, along with priorities resulting from any assessment of need, or set out in any playing pitch or other indoor and/or outdoor sports facility strategy that the local authority has in place.

In line with the Government’s NPPF (including Section 8) and its Planning Practice Guidance (Health and wellbeing section), links below, consideration should also be given to how any new development, especially for new housing, will provide opportunities for people to lead healthy lifestyles and create healthy communities. Sport England’s Active Design guidance can be used to help with this when developing planning policies and developing or assessing individual proposals.

Active Design, which includes a model planning policy, provides ten principles to help ensure the design and layout of development encourages and promotes participation in sport and physical activity. The guidance, and its accompanying checklist, could also be used at the evidence gathering stage of developing a neighbourhood plan to help undertake an assessment of how the design and layout of the area currently enables people to lead active lifestyles and what could be improved.

NPPF Section 8: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-planning-policy-framework/8-promoting-healthy-communities

PPG Health and wellbeing section: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/health-and-wellbeing

Sport England’s Active Design Guidance: https://www.sportengland.org/activedesign

(Please note: this response relates to Sport England’s planning function only. It is not associated with our funding role or any grant application/award that may relate to the site.)

If you need any further advice, please do not hesitate to contact Sport England using the contact details below.

Yours sincerely,

Planning Technical Team

Dear Greg Woolridge
Re: Cheshire East Council Weston and Crewe Green Neighbourhood Plan (Regulation
16)
Thank you for your notification of 5 January 2026 seeking the views of the Coal Authority on
the above.
The Coal Authority is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for
Energy Security and Net Zero. As a statutory consultee, the Coal Authority has a duty to
respond to planning applications and development plans in order to protect the public and
the environment in mining areas.
However, the area to which this consultation relates is not located within the defined
coalfield. On this basis we have no specific comments to make.
Yours
The Coal Authority Planning Team

Dear Greg Woolridge,
Weston and Crewe Green Neighbourhood Plan Regulation 16 Consultation
Thank you for your consultation on the above document.
We are the charity who look after and bring to life 2000 miles of canals & rivers. Our waterways contribute to the health and wellbeing of local communities and economies, creating attractive and connected places to live, work, volunteer and spend leisure time. These historic, natural and cultural assets form part of the strategic and local green-blue infrastructure network, linking urban and rural communities as well as habitats. By caring for our waterways and promoting their use we believe we can improve the wellbeing of our nation. The Canal & River Trust (the Trust) is a statutory consultee in the Development Management process, and as such we welcome the opportunity to input into planning policy related matters to ensure that our waterways are protected, safeguarded and enhanced within an appropriate policy framework.
The Trust have no waterways, assets or land interests within the area covered by the proposed Weston and Crewe Green Neighbourhood Plan and therefore have no comment to make.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any queries you may have.
Yours sincerely,
Dean Clapworthy MRTPI
Area Planner

Dear Neighbourhood Planning Team,
Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012
Weston and Crewe Green Neighbourhood Plan Reg 16 Consultation
Thank you for consulting Historic England in relation to the above consultation. We are 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 DCMS. We champion and protect England’s historic places, providing expert advice to local planning authorities, developers, owners and communities to help ensure that our historic environment is properly understood, enjoyed and cared for.
Historic England made a number of comments in relation to the pre-submission draft plan, on 11th September 2025. We are pleased that these have largely been taken into account and we have no further comments to make.
We welcome the content of the publication draft plan so far as it affects our interests. We do not wish to make comments in relation to this version of Neighbourhood Plan. To avoid any doubt, this does not reflect our obligation to provide further advice or potentially object to specific proposals which may subsequently arise as a result of the proposed neighbourhood plan, where we consider these would have an adverse effect on the historic environment.
Thank you once again for providing Historic England with the opportunity to comment. Please do keep us informed of any future progress on this plan.
Yours sincerely,
Emma Grange
Historic places Advisor

Utilise Traditional Architecture Design Codes for all new construction with a ban on demolition of all buildings constructed prior to 1950. See my PDF Umbrella Representation for additional Placemaking/ Planning and Greenery Proposals.

We have been instructed to submit comments in response to the Regulation 16 Consultation on the Weston and Crewe Green Neighbourhood Plan on behalf of the Duchy of Lancaster.

We understand the current consultation version of the Neighbourhood Plan follows the adoption of two previous versions that include the original Weston and Basford Neighbourhood Plan (made on 18 December 2017) and a modified version that was made on 20 February 2024. As such, the latest version that is currently being consulted on, is intended to address alterations to the Parish Council administrative boundary following an extension of the boundary to include the Parish of Crewe Green and the removal of the area of Chorlton Parish. It is therefore understood that the thrust of most of the policies remain largely the same, but have been updated to address the implications of extending the designated area, as determined by the Neighbourhood Area Decision Notice dated 8 March 2024.

Neighbourhood Plans have an important role in shaping development on a local level and so the Weston and Crewe Green Neighbourhood Plan is welcomed, especially as it includes a detailed understanding of the elements and features that define the character of the neighbourhood plan area. The policies in the neighbourhood plan subsequently provide a clear steer in relation to the appearance and character of development to be supported based on a detailed analysis and appreciation as to the means for conserving and enhancing the character of the neighbourhood area going forward.

Policy E1
We understand that a number of additional viewpoints have been identified on the “Location map of local views and vistas” included on page 17 due to assessment of the extent of the enlarged designated area. The additional views are 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.

In respect of view 9 on page 62, it appears the photograph has been taken some distance along a private track off Barthomley Road rather from Barthomley Road itself, as is hopefully illustrated by the screenshot from Google Maps under Figure 1 (please refer to emailed version of the same comments). Given that a hedge runs along Barthomley Road and views are only fleetingly offered by gaps serving access points or undulations in the topography over the tops of hedges then we question whether the view point is of public interest, especially as the photograph has been taken from private land. We would therefore ask for the inclusion of view point 9 to be considered for deletion or else amended so the photograph is taken from Barthomley Road itself and offers a clear vista. If no clear vista can be achieved without obstruction from hedges or as views are only of short distances due to the undulating topography then we would suggest that the view point should be deleted on the basis that the open rural setting is not readily visible.

With regard to view 11 on page 63, the photograph is a close-up of a view above an established roadside hedge where the image focuses on a relatively short distance view created by the undulating topography. As such, the photograph does not offer a long distance view of the Green Belt beyond as there is no true depth to the photograph.

Additionally, the photograph and the arrow shown on the map on page 17 are at an angle that suggest looking across Old Park Road from one side to the other. There are no stopping places or properties from which the view point might be appreciated as Old Park Road is one of the main roads serving the wider area and is subject to the national speed limit. As such, drivers should be focused Old Park Road rather than the view from the side window, especially given the speed of the road.

Furthermore, the intention of the photograph and arrow are explained to be with a view to protecting views from the proposed South Cheshire Growth Village across to the east, but the photograph is taken from a position where there is a tree belt directly behind the photographer and development is to be delivered in the vista of the photograph. This is on the basis that development is proposed on land between the south side of Old Park Road and the railway line.

As such, views from Old Park Road or the South Cheshire Growth Hub are unlikely to be gained from the position or angle shown by the arrow and it is questionable as to whether the photograph represents the view that the policy seeks to protect. Given that paragraph 13 of the National Planning Policy Framework sets out that neighbourhood plans should support the delivery of strategic policies and paragraph 30 refers to how neighbourhood plans should not undermine strategic policies then it appears the viewpoint runs contrary to the allocation of the South Cheshire Growth Hub because of the intention for development to be delivered within the vista identified by the arrow and photograph. We would therefore like to suggest that view 11 is deleted, especially as there do not appear to be any public vantage points within the extent of land that is allocated that might offer views eastwards.

With reference to view 12, the arrow suggests the photograph has been taken from Weston Road when it has, in fact, been taken from the private driveway that serves Crewe Hall Hotel. As the view is from a private driveway that serves only a hotel then it is questionable whether the viewpoint is in the public interest, as it is not widely available to the general public. Furthermore, the view is of a Registered Park and Garden, and therefore subject to national planning policy and legislation concerning heritage assets. Consequently, it should not be necessary for the Neighbourhood Plan to include policies concerning a designation that is already dealt with at a more strategic level. We would therefore like to suggest that view 12 is deleted due to the duplication with the heritage designation.

Policy E2
We appreciate the latest version of the Neighbourhood Plan is simply intended to respond to administrative changes to the parish boundary and that the policy and supporting plans are being carried across from previous made versions, but we would like to comment on Plan 3 and Plan 4 within the Neighbourhood Plan and policy E2.

Having reviewed the Natural Environment Report, it appears that the wildlife corridors illustrated on Map 10 (which is also Plan 3 within the Neighbourhood Plan) and the medium distinctives habitats on Map 9 (Plan 4 within the Neighbourhood Plan) have been defined largely on the basis of merging the extent of the deciduous woodland from Map 3 and broadleaf woodland from Map 4. The high habitat distinctiveness areas shown on Map 9 (Plan 4 within the Neighbourhood Plan) then reflect the Local Wildlife Sites and Potential Local Wildlife Sites shown on Map 6 within the Natural Environment Report.

Whilst the means of identifying the wildlife corridors and distinctive habitats appear to be a reasonable starting position, we are concerned that it is rather rudimentary given the lack of site survey and fails to consider overlapping statutory designations. As such, policy E2 simply aims to protect existing wildlife corridors and distinctive habitats without due regard to the condition of the woodlands or other planning matters, including heritage. The root of this comment is because the area of woodland that dissects the Registered Park and Garden on the north side of Crewe Hall is identified as a medium distinctiveness habitat and part of the defined wildlife corridor. However, the woodland consists of the original landscape scheme attributed to William Andrews Nesfield and then an area of poplars that were planted after 1941 following the draining of the lake which had formed part of the original landscape design. The “Bryant's Map of Cheshire 1831" on page 70 of the Neighbourhood Plan illustrates the extent of the original lakes. As such, there is a potential conflict in so far as if a scheme were to be brought forward for the restoration of the Registered Park and Garden then it would be contrary to policy E2. We would therefore be grateful if amendments could be considered to criteria a and c of policy E2 so as to avoid unnecessary conflicts between planning policies and designations.

In respect of criterion a, we would like to suggest the policy clause is amended to read (please refer to emailed version of our comments for underlining of new words) “Planning applications will only be supported if they demonstrate that they will not adversely affect designated wildlife habitats in the plan area, unless the benefits would outweigh the potential for harm (See note 1).”

With regard to criterion c, we would like to suggest the wording is amended to read “Development proposals which create barriers to the movement of wildlife along wildlife corridors within the plan area will be resisted (See note 3). Development proposals should enhance and / or preserve the connection between corridors and wildlife sites.”

The suggested changes are subtle but will ensure the criteria are consistent with other planning policies and the way in which planning applications are expected to be determined with reference to Section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004; section 70(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990; and paragraph 11 and Sections 15 and 16 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Next Steps
Neighbourhood plans are an important element of the planning system and offer a truly local opportunity to shape development, especially with a view to protecting and enhancing the natural and built environment. We therefore welcome the efforts of the Parish Council in drafting the Weston and Crewe Green Neighbourhood Plan and the opportunity to have had chance to comment on the draft document.

We trust our comments will assist in ensuring the neighbourhood plan is robust and effective in its application.

Attached.