Local plan scoping consultation

I am responding to the consultation on the new Cheshire East Local Plan (closing 1 September 2026) to highlight what the plan should address at this stage, specifically adjacent to Blakelow Road and Buxton Old Road.
I urge the plan to include strong Green Belt protections from the outset, not just during later site assessments:
• The plan should ensure brownfield and greenfield sites are fully considered before any Green Belt land is proposed for development.
• Landscape and visual impact assessments must be required as a prerequisite for considering any Green Belt site, with Green Belt release not treated as a like-for-like swap with other land.
• The five established purposes of Green Belt policy, (Check sprawl to stop large built-up areas from expanding in an uncontrolled way; Prevent merging by keeping a clear gap so adjacent towns stay separate; Safeguard countryside by protecting rural land and open spaces from building work; Preserve historic character by maintaining the unique visual setting of heritage towns; Encourage regeneration by promoting the reuse of derelict and brownfield urban land), should be reaffirmed, and no release of Green Belt should proceed unless tested against all these criteria.
• Elevated Green Belt land, due to greater visibility and landscape sensitivity, should have explicit assessment criteria.
• Any landscape assessment should consider the site's role in the wider elevated landscape and its relation to protected areas, not just the site in isolation.
I raise these points now because, as a long-term resident on Blakelow Road, Green Belt land near my home has been identified as a potential development site. While I will comment on any specific proposals at a later stage, I want to ensure the policy framework is robust enough to protect this prominent Green Belt area for the future.