Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 5747

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: The Strategic Land Group Ltd

SLG considers that the Local Plan’s aims and objectives should be measurable, distinctive to Cheshire East and supported by monitoring and intervention mechanisms where outcomes are not being achieved. For example, housing delivery should be monitored annually against the Local Plan trajectory, with intervention, such as releasing safeguarded land, considered if delivery falls short. Although the Scoping Consultation does not specify what the Local Plan vision or objectives should contain, SLG emphasises that they should address the critical shortage of homes in Cheshire East while supporting the ambition to create new jobs, ensuring that housing and employment growth are appropriately aligned.

Comment

Representation ID: 5749

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: The Strategic Land Group Ltd

SLG highlights Cheshire East’s significant housing need, noting a minimum requirement of 2,531 homes annually and an increasing level of unmet need. The Council currently cannot demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, reinforcing the need to identify sufficient additional development sites and maintain flexibility. SLG argues that the Local Plan housing requirement should be treated as a minimum and should reflect specific housing needs, economic growth ambitions and infrastructure investment. It recommends incorporating a 20% supply-side contingency buffer to address unforeseen delivery issues, given the housing shortfall, alongside careful consideration of sites submitted through the Call for Sites process.

Comment

Representation ID: 5750

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: The Strategic Land Group Ltd

The assessment of potential development sites should be done holistically - looking at the benefits and harms of development in the round - and take into
account the potential for mitigation to off-set any harms identified.

Comment

Representation ID: 5752

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: The Strategic Land Group Ltd

SLG agree with the Council that producing a settlement hierarchy is an
important step in deciding on the appropriate distribution of development, as
set out in the Scoping Consultation. This will help direct development to the
most sustainable locations.

Comment

Representation ID: 5753

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: The Strategic Land Group Ltd

SLG considers that the significant need for new homes means development should be allocated across settlements of all types, guided by the Settlement Hierarchy. The location of growth should consider housing demand, availability and specialist housing needs, while recognising how development can support existing services and facilities and maintain settlement sustainability. SLG also supports edge-of-settlement growth, arguing that Cheshire East’s unmet housing need cannot be accommodated solely within existing settlement boundaries.

Comment

Representation ID: 5754

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: The Strategic Land Group Ltd

justification for, affordable housing provision will therefore be required for housing allocations in the Local Plan. The best route to increasing the number of affordable homes in Cheshire East would be to simply increase the housing requirement, which provides more scope for affordable homes to be delivered across the plan period. This is supported by Paragraph 67-008 of the PPG which notes that “An increase in the total housing requirement included in the plan may need to be considered where it could help deliver the required number of affordable homes.

Copilot said:
SLG stresses the importance of delivering affordable housing through the new Local Plan but cautions against imposing a high, standard percentage requirement across developments, as viability varies significantly across Cheshire East. Affordable housing requirements for individual allocations should therefore be supported by robust evidence and justification. SLG considers that the most effective way to increase affordable housing delivery would be to increase the overall housing requirement, creating greater scope for affordable homes to be provided throughout the plan period. This approach would help ensure affordable housing provision is deliverable while recognising differences in development viability across the borough.

Comment

Representation ID: 5755

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: The Strategic Land Group Ltd

supports this approach and emphasises that this need will likely become more acute over the course of the plan period, therefore requiring an ambitious level of care home provision. According to care home developers in Cheshire East, there is a well documented shortfall in registered care bed provision across Cheshire, with existing facilities increasingly unable to accommodate the demands of an ageing population and care standards which have modernised since the existing supply was built. There is not only the need for more care home facilities, but new care homes which meet current best practice guidance and Care Quality Commission standards. Specialist housing for older people, in particular care homes, must be located in sustainable locations, close to large settlements (i.e. the first and second tier of the existing settlement hierarchy), having well served road frontages to support commuting care workers, and being within a 1km walk of accessible local services. Opportunities for the provision of care homes as part of a wider market housing scheme should be considered as creative solutions to meeting unmet need. Not only does this allow for market housing schemes to deliver a share of specialist housing, but represents an approach which ensures care home residents feel they are integrated members of the local area rather than isolated from the wider community.

Copilot said:
SLG supports identifying specialist housing for older people, particularly care homes, reflecting Cheshire East’s ageing population and an existing shortfall in suitable care provision. It considers that provision will need to increase significantly over the plan period, with new facilities meeting modern standards and guidance. Care homes should be located sustainably, close to larger settlements, accessible services and suitable road connections for care workers. SLG also supports incorporating care homes within wider market housing developments, where appropriate, to help meet specialist housing needs while ensuring older residents remain integrated within the wider community.

Comment

Representation ID: 5757

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: The Strategic Land Group Ltd

SLG considers that the Council’s assessment of future employment land needs should recognise the close relationship between employment and housing growth. The Economic Development Needs Assessment and Employment Land Review should determine whether additional employment sites are required through the new Local Plan. SLG emphasises that economic and housing growth should be planned together, as an ambitious strategy for creating jobs and expanding employment opportunities may require the delivery of additional homes to accommodate the resulting workforce and support sustainable economic growth.

Comment

Representation ID: 5758

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: The Strategic Land Group Ltd

SLG considers that the Council’s assessment of future employment land needs should recognise the close relationship between employment and housing growth. The Economic Development Needs Assessment and Employment Land Review should determine whether additional employment sites are required through the new Local Plan. SLG emphasises that economic and housing growth should be planned together, as an ambitious strategy for creating jobs and expanding employment opportunities may require the delivery of additional homes to accommodate the resulting workforce and support sustainable economic growth.

Comment

Representation ID: 5759

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: The Strategic Land Group Ltd

SLG supports the proposed Viability Assessment as essential to assessing the deliverability of housing sites. It highlights increasing development costs, including construction and regulatory requirements, which it considers to be structural rather than short-term challenges. SLG argues that the assessment must reflect current market conditions and provide a robust basis for setting affordable housing and other policy requirements. It suggests that viability pressures may justify less costly requirements than those in the current Local Plan to ensure development remains deliverable. SLG reserves the right to provide further comments once the Council publishes and consults on the final Viability Assessment.