Local plan scoping consultation

I am writing to formally object to the inclusion of the 291.03-hectare land submission around Ashley (12 adjoining sites totalling 291.03 hectares) in the Cheshire East Local Plan / SHELAA. My objections are listed below :-Green Belt Protection – It is in direct conflict with core green belt purposes
Purpose A (Check Unrestricted Sprawl): Serves as the primary barrier preventing the Manchester conurbation from expanding southwards.Purpose B (Prevent Towns Merging): Building across these 291.03 hectares would physically merge Greater Manchester settlements with Cheshire villages and towns.
Purpose C (Safeguard the Countryside): Protects active, open agricultural land from suburban encroachment.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to formally object to the inclusion of the 291.03-hectare land submission around Ashley (12 adjoining sites totalling 291.03 hectares) in the Cheshire East Local Plan / SHELAA. My objections are listed below :-

Green Belt Protection – It is in direct conflict with core green belt purposes

Purpose A (Check Unrestricted Sprawl): Serves as the primary barrier preventing the Manchester conurbation from expanding southwards.

Purpose B (Prevent Towns Merging): Building across these 291.03 hectares would physically merge Greater Manchester settlements with Cheshire villages and towns.

Purpose C (Safeguard the Countryside): Protects active, open agricultural land from suburban encroachment. Protecting this land aligns with national policy to preserve prime agricultural resources.

This land forms a vital, narrow buffer in the North Cheshire Green Belt. It performs anti-sprawl buffer duties between Hale/Trafford and Knutsford/Mobberley. It is Manchester's 'breathing space'.

Grey Belt Test- it fails this test

Under national policy, Green Belt land can only be released if it meets the definition of 'Grey Belt' (previously developed brownfield land or land that makes a negligible contribution to Green Belt purposes). Open, working farmland across Ashley fails this test.

Settlement Hierarchy –it violates sustainable development principles.

Ashley is a small, rural parish with very little public transport, infrastructure or facilities. Allocating large-scale development here violates sustainable development principles, which require growth to be focused on Tier 1 and Tier 2 urban centres.

Loss of Best and Most Versatile (BMV) Farmland – it conflicts with national policy

Independent soil data proves extensive Grade 2 and Subgrade 3a land. This development therefore conflicts with national policy protecting top-tier agricultural soils.

Transport & Safety

Inadequate rural lane network, narrow railway bridges, A538/M56 congestion, and high forced car dependency.

Inadequate Rail Connections: Ashley train station cannot be considered a well-connected transit hub. It currently operates at a low frequency of just one train per hour in each direction at maximum. Furthermore, with the proposed new station at Cheadle now likely to proceed, service models indicate that Ashley’s service frequency could be reduced further to just one train every two hours, rendering it wholly incapable of supporting sustainable commuter demand.

Landscape & Heritage

Direct harm to two Local Landscape Designations, 19 Grade II listed building settings, Ashley Hall, and historic Tatton Estate hedgerows/fields.

Ecological Impacts

Adverse impacts on Cotterill Clough Nature Reserve: A 14-acre Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), managed by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust, which includes ancient woodland with tree preservation orders (TPOs) and protected species wildlife corridors for bats, owls badgers and Greater Crested Newts.
Infrastructure Barriers

Severe surface water flood risks to River Bollin; operational noise contours and bird-strike safety zones from Manchester Airport.

I request that Cheshire East Council formally classify this 291 hectare area (12 adjoining sites totalling 291.03 hectares) as Unsuitable and Undeliverable in the SHELAA assessment.

Kind regards

Colette Fletcher

Kind regards,
Colette.