Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 5108

Received: 27/08/2026

Respondent: Deloitte

The Commissioners support reviewing the settlement hierarchy to inform the spatial distribution of growth, site allocations and settlement boundaries. The hierarchy should be based on up-to-date evidence reflecting settlements’ roles, services, employment, sustainable transport, infrastructure and functional relationships, rather than size alone. Particular consideration should be given to relationships between settlements and their contribution to wider networks. Shavington’s role as a Local Service Centre and the connections between Shavington, Wybunbury, Nantwich and Crewe should be recognised. The hierarchy should provide a flexible framework that directs growth towards sustainable locations capable of supporting housing, services, infrastructure and community sustainability.

Comment

Representation ID: 5109

Received: 27/08/2026

Respondent: Deloitte

The Commissioners recognise the role of strategic green gaps in maintaining settlement separation and identity and support reviewing their purpose through updated evidence. Future designations should reflect how land contributes to preventing coalescence and preserving community character. Green gaps should not be treated as an absolute constraint, as land within them may perform different functions and sustainable growth may need to be accommodated. Assessment should identify the areas most important for maintaining separation while recognising appropriate development opportunities. Proposals should be considered case by case, taking account of settlement form, landscape character and the ability to retain meaningful separation between settlements.

Comment

Representation ID: 5110

Received: 27/08/2026

Respondent: Deloitte

The Commissioners support a robust, evidence-led and transparent assessment of potential development sites to meet increased housing and wider development needs. All promoted sites should be consistently assessed for availability, suitability and achievability, without overly restrictive early-stage filters excluding sustainable opportunities. Assessment should consider settlement relationships, infrastructure requirements and contributions to development needs. The Commissioners support a diverse supply of strategic allocations, urban extensions and small and medium-sized sites, including opportunities at Wybunbury and Land North of Stock Lane, Shavington. This balanced approach would strengthen housing supply and provide a realistic prospect of delivery throughout the Local Plan period.

Comment

Representation ID: 5111

Received: 27/08/2026

Respondent: Deloitte

The Commissioners support a clear, ambitious and deliverable vision reflecting Cheshire East’s changing planning context, increased housing needs, economic growth and infrastructure requirements. The vision should be realistic, measurable and distinctive, establishing a sustainable and flexible pattern of growth across principal towns, service centres and rural communities. It should recognise the complementary role of strategic growth and proportionate development, including opportunities at Shavington and Wybunbury, in delivering housing, affordable homes, infrastructure and community vitality. Measurable outcomes should focus on housing and affordable housing delivery, infrastructure provision, biodiversity enhancement, economic growth and maintaining a sufficient supply of deliverable development sites throughout the Plan period.

Comment

Representation ID: 5112

Received: 27/08/2026

Respondent: Deloitte

The Commissioners support introducing National Decision Making Policies and avoiding unnecessary duplication of national policy within the Local Plan. The Plan should be concise and locally focused, concentrating on the spatial strategy, housing requirements, settlement hierarchy, site allocations, infrastructure, affordable housing and environmental priorities. It should establish a robust framework for assessing a diverse range of development opportunities, including smaller sites at Wybunbury and larger planned growth at Shavington. The Local Plan should also align with any adopted Spatial Development Strategy, providing a locally distinctive approach to meeting Cheshire East’s growth needs while relying on national policies for consistent development management.

Comment

Representation ID: 5113

Received: 27/08/2026

Respondent: Deloitte

The Commissioners support coordinated strategic planning through the emerging Cheshire and Warrington Spatial Development Strategy but consider that this should not delay the Cheshire East Local Plan. The Local Plan should continue to identify sufficient land, assess a broad range of sites and establish an appropriate spatial strategy, while retaining flexibility to respond to emerging strategic priorities. Given increased housing needs and the strategic role of the Crewe and Nantwich area, sustainable growth opportunities associated with settlements including Shavington and Wybunbury should be positively assessed. This approach would enable Cheshire East to address local development needs while responding to wider strategic growth ambitions.

Comment

Representation ID: 5114

Received: 27/08/2026

Respondent: Deloitte

The Commissioners consider the significantly increased housing need requires a broader, more resilient supply of sites across Cheshire East. The Local Plan should meet the revised standard method figure as a minimum and test whether higher growth is justified. The current housing land supply shortfall reinforces the need for strategic sites, urban extensions and small and medium-sized opportunities across different settlements. Wybunbury could support proportionate village growth, rural vitality and earlier delivery, while Land North of Stock Lane, Shavington could provide a planned extension delivering housing, affordable homes and infrastructure. A diversified supply will support deliverability and affordable housing provision.