Local plan scoping consultation

The Cheshire East Housing completions and supply: base date 31 March 2025 contains multiple inaccuracies. Several residential developments in and around Macclesfield that have already begun building or are partially complete have not been accounted for. Residential buildings that will house multiple occupants eg elderly homes are recorded as being a single dwelling. If the new housing target is based on these data then they should be re-examined.

A large part of what was formally green belt and green field sites in Cheshire East has already been developed. There has already been a detrimental impact on residents in rural areas and the rural economy. Grazing land is now unaffordable for the majority of people with interests in grazing livestock and horses. Agriculture and equestrian sports contribute significantly to the economy of Cheshire East, this is not adequately represented in the current plan and proposed updates. Nationally and globally we are in the midst of a climate and food production crisis. No more residential development on Green Belt land should take place until all Brown Field sites are fully utilised.

I hope the social and economic impacts will include the agricultural and equestrian communities in Cheshire East which have already suffered as a consequence of the previous development of Green Belt and green fields.

This document does not recognise the substantial increase in population size of Cheshire East in the last 10 years which is above the national average. New housing built in the borough has exceeded previous targets and this is not adequately represented. Huge increases in population around Congleton, Macclesfield and Sandbach have not been reflected in any additional provision of educational or healthcare services, public transport or expansion of Macclesfield hospital. Highways are unfit for purpose across much of the borough and the road network cannot cope with the increased amount of traffic. Serious consideration must be given to broadening these services before increasing the populations any further.

I hope all assessments of submitted sites will take into consideration the strain already placed on areas that are already seeing development and traffic surveys will consider the amount of traffic being driven by development sites already initiated but not yet complete. For example the development on Gaw End Lane in Macclesfield and developments in Congleton have placed substantial pressure on the road networks between Congleton and Macclesfield. In particular, London Road and the village of Sutton has seen gridlock on several occasions that required a police presence. The volume of traffic flowing from Congleton into Macclesfield has increased exponentially and has resulted in numerous "rat runs" through Sutton which has brought conflict and collisions with rural road users.

Green fields are critical to preserving the unique character of the borough's towns and villages as well as supporting the rural economies so vital to Cheshire East. They have already been desecrated by development sites across the borough. No more building on green fields will be tolerated. The community response against building on these sites has been clearly demonstrated in recent years, epitomised by the campaign to save Danes Moss.

It is disappointing that many people cannot access housing given the huge amount of residential development that has already occurred in Cheshire East within the last 5-10 years. This is a direct result of poor planning policy and the building of large plots of unaffordable housing that have been bought by people from outside the North West, moving from areas that were higher priced. This has significantly swelled the population of Cheshire East, in particular Macclesfield and surrounding areas, without helping address the housing needs.

Macclesfield town centre is struggling to provide meaningful retail and little to no social or cultural attractions. Building more residential developments out of the town centre will only magnify the problems and not enable the fostering of a sustainable community-based town centre. The Treacle Market has shown this can be a success when managed and encouraged appropriately. Focus planning on the town centre not sprawling towns into villages with no hub.

Horse riders are also valid, legal road users. Horse riding and carriage driving are active ways to travel but have been completely missed from the document. Equestrian activities are a multi-billion pound industry in this country. Horse riders are in significant numbers within the borough and must be included in considerations for new developments particularly in rural areas.

Stop building on green field sites during a climate crisis.