Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 5098

Received: 27/08/2026

Respondent: Deloitte

The Commissioners support the Council’s focus on high-quality design and placemaking, with the Local Plan addressing locally specific priorities while avoiding duplication of national policy. Where masterplans or design codes are required, their purpose, scope and status should be clear and should not unnecessarily delay development. The Local Plan should balance efficient land use and housing delivery with local character and attractive, healthy and sustainable communities, reflecting the principles of Policy DP3. A proportionate strategic framework is supported, with detailed matters addressed at application stage. For larger sites, proportionate masterplanning should provide certainty and support delivery without causing delays.

Comment

Representation ID: 5099

Received: 27/08/2026

Respondent: Deloitte

The Commissioners support the Council’s commitment to tackling climate change and the preparation of a Climate Change and Renewable Energy Study. The Local Plan should primarily contribute through the sustainable location and design of growth, reducing travel needs, supporting active travel and public transport, and using existing infrastructure effectively. Climate resilience measures should be considered proportionately on a site-by-site basis, including green infrastructure, tree planting, biodiversity enhancement, renewable energy, sustainable drainage and flood resilience. Climate objectives should be balanced with housing, employment and infrastructure needs. A Plan-led approach is supported to achieve long-term environmental, social and economic sustainability.

Comment

Representation ID: 5100

Received: 27/08/2026

Respondent: Deloitte

The Commissioners support the Council’s emphasis on active travel to improve health, reduce emissions and support sustainable movement. The Local Plan should maximise walking, wheeling and cycling opportunities by directing growth to locations with good access to services, facilities, employment and public transport. New development should provide safe, attractive and convenient active travel connections within sites and to surrounding communities. Active travel should be integral to the spatial strategy and site allocation process. New development should strengthen connections between settlements, local centres, schools, employment areas, public transport interchanges and public open spaces, supporting more accessible and sustainable communities across Cheshire East.

Comment

Representation ID: 5101

Received: 27/08/2026

Respondent: Deloitte

The Commissioners support protecting and enhancing the natural environment alongside sustainable growth, informed by the LNRS and relevant environmental evidence. Environmental considerations should be integrated into site selection, but designations and nature recovery opportunities should not automatically preclude development. The Local Plan should align growth with environmental enhancement through landscape-led and infrastructure-led development. Strategic allocations can deliver biodiversity net gain, habitat connectivity, green infrastructure, SuDS, woodland planting and improved access to greenspace alongside housing and infrastructure. Local standards should be evidence-based, justified and deliverable. Site assessment should consider both environmental constraints and the benefits well-planned development can provide.

Comment

Representation ID: 5102

Received: 27/08/2026

Respondent: Deloitte

The Commissioners support integrating transport and infrastructure planning with the Local Plan’s spatial strategy and site allocation process. Growth should be directed towards locations supporting sustainable travel and effective use of existing or planned infrastructure. Transport, utilities, digital connectivity, health, education, green infrastructure and community facilities should be planned alongside development. Crewe’s strategic rail connectivity and the wider Crewe area are highlighted as supporting sustainable growth. Infrastructure should be viewed as both a requirement and an opportunity, particularly through strategic allocations. Site assessment should consider access to services, employment and sustainable transport, alongside opportunities to deliver infrastructure and connectivity improvements.

Comment

Representation ID: 5103

Received: 27/08/2026

Respondent: Deloitte

The Commissioners strongly support housing diversification and the provision of small and medium-sized sites in accordance with NPPF Policy HO6. Meeting the required proportion of housing on these sites will require a proactive and flexible approach to allocation. Such sites can support rural communities, local services, SME housebuilders and earlier housing delivery, strengthening housing supply resilience. Wybunbury is identified as suitable for proportionate rural growth, alongside larger opportunities such as Land North of Stock Lane, Shavington. The Commissioners support a balanced allocation strategy incorporating strategic growth, sustainable urban extensions and smaller sites to improve flexibility, deliverability and housing supply throughout the Plan period.

Comment

Representation ID: 5104

Received: 27/08/2026

Respondent: Deloitte

The Commissioners support reviewing housing mix requirements through the Housing Needs Assessment to reflect changing demographics, affordability pressures and household needs, including Cheshire East’s ageing population and younger households. Future policies should remain flexible to respond to site-specific circumstances and changing market conditions. Larger sites can provide a broad range of housing types, tenures and specialist accommodation, while smaller sites can diversify supply and meet local needs. A broad portfolio of development opportunities is therefore supported, with larger growth around settlements such as Shavington complemented by small and medium-sized sites in locations such as Wybunbury to support sustainable rural housing delivery.

Comment

Representation ID: 5105

Received: 27/08/2026

Respondent: Deloitte

The Commissioners support updated evidence to inform affordable housing requirements, including housing type, mix and Social Rent provision. A sufficient supply of viable and deliverable sites will be essential to meeting identified needs. Larger sites, such as Land North of Stock Lane, Shavington, can deliver significant affordable housing alongside green and supporting infrastructure, while smaller and medium-sized sites can contribute to affordable housing and choice within rural communities. Requirements should be based on robust evidence and viability testing to ensure they remain deliverable. A broad range of sites across the Borough will help maintain affordable housing delivery throughout the Plan period.

Comment

Representation ID: 5106

Received: 27/08/2026

Respondent: Deloitte

The Commissioners support delivering sufficient homes in appropriate locations to meet Cheshire East’s housing needs. The Housing Needs Assessment should identify the quantity, type and tenure required, reflecting the needs of different groups, including those requiring affordable or specialist housing, older and disabled people, families, and self and custom builders. Given increased housing need, the Local Plan should provide a sufficient and diverse supply of sites. This should include strategic allocations, urban extensions, small and medium-sized sites, existing service centres and sustainable rural communities, helping to meet a range of needs and maintain a resilient housing supply throughout the Plan period.

Comment

Representation ID: 5107

Received: 27/08/2026

Respondent: Deloitte

The Commissioners support a flexible spatial strategy that meets increased housing needs through a broad range of sustainable locations and development types. Growth should balance housing delivery, affordability, employment, infrastructure capacity and environmental constraints while maintaining a resilient supply. Principal towns and service centres should accommodate significant growth, complemented by urban regeneration, sustainable urban extensions and appropriately scaled rural development. The wider Crewe, Nantwich, Shavington and Wybunbury area is identified as an important growth opportunity, with larger settlement-edge sites and smaller rural sites making complementary contributions. A diverse approach would support housing, infrastructure investment and wider community benefits.