Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 4089

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: A Emmerson

Opportunities for new roads are limited, environmentally damaging and there is clear academic evidence that new road building actually increases congestion. The new Local Plan should therefore prioritise demand management and sustainable transport, including public transport, active travel and effective enforcement of existing regulations. It should also provide a more accurate assessment of rail connectivity, recognising that services are less frequent than suggested in Section 4.5, with many operating hourly or less often and experiencing significant overcrowding during peak periods.

Comment

Representation ID: 4094

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: A Emmerson

This section gives insufficient recognition to landscape quality, natural habitats and functioning environmental systems, focusing instead on designated sites and attractions. Cheshire East is a highly valued place to live, largely because of the quality, character and diversity of its landscapes and natural environment. These assets should be protected, enhanced and considered as a whole, rather than treated as isolated attractions or designated sites. The Cheshire East Landscape Character Assessment was amended in 2018 without consultation, it should be revised to include public opinion. Productive agricultural land should be protected to safeguard local employment and food security.

Comment

Representation ID: 4096

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: A Emmerson

Avoiding merging of settlements especially through the protection of greenbelt and avoidance of car dependent urban sprawl should be a key consideration within the plan.

Comment

Representation ID: 4098

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: A Emmerson

Priority matters have to be to protect the environment and to put measurable steps in place for the recovery of biodiversity. Economic growth will fail without them.

Comment

Representation ID: 4101

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: A Emmerson

Why is the environment regarded negatively as a constraint? A change in thought is required to see how this can work alongside all other facets of the local plan.

Comment

Representation ID: 4102

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: A Emmerson

Sites should be rejected that damage or destroy critical and irreplaceable habitats. These include all development on:
1 Peatland
2 Ancient woodland
3 Key wildlife corridors within the landscape
4 Unimproved grassland
5 Wet woodland

Comment

Representation ID: 4108

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: A Emmerson

Brownfield sites can have significant ecological value, supporting important habitats with have high biodiversity. All development proposals on brownfield land should therefore be subject to a comprehensive ecological assessment of habitats and species. Where significant ecological value is identified, development should be refused to protect biodiversity, ecological connectivity and opportunities for nature recovery.
The government definition of 'grey belt' is unclear, any land selected to be removed from the greenbelt should have clearly demonstrable reasons on why and a process in place for the public to challenge this.

Comment

Representation ID: 4111

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: A Emmerson

The government defined housing need must be challenged to alleviate the scale of development.

Comment

Representation ID: 4113

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: A Emmerson

The development of town centres should be a key focus of the plan. These invariably already have the required infrastructure in place including public transport. This would also minimise the destruction of ecologically important areas, the greenbelt and productive farmland. It would also minimise car dependency and increased congestion. It is also noticeable that many highstreets have unused/empty buildings.

Comment

Representation ID: 4116

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: A Emmerson

There is currently an over reliance on private car travel with economic development. Greenfield development and new road building exacerbates this issue. Provision of diversified travel infrastructure is required within the plan including strategic upgrades of public transport to actually make it a convenient and usable alternative to car travel.