Local plan scoping consultation

These sites were considered during the Neighbourhood Plan process and rejected after several consultations, even for small, highly focused development due to many reasons such as lack of most significant infrastructure or facilities in the village, total lack of transport links, inadequate roads/paths, and Green Belt policies.
High Legh has a lack of infrastructure, facilities and public transport links to service the existing residents .

We write in response to the Cheshire East Proposed Local Plan Consultation on which the Parish Council of High Legh would like to highlight the below concerns.
This process has started with the circulation of a draft proposal for the Local Plan which includes a map with proposed development areas which seems to be based on “calls for sites” made some time ago. Since that time High Legh has completed and “made” a Neighbourhood Plan which does not include development on either of the potential housing development sites included in the maps. These sites were considered during the Neighbourhood Plan process and rejected after several consultations, even for small, highly focussed development due to many reasons such as lack of most significant infrastructure or facilities in the village, total lack of transport links, inadequate roads/paths, and Green Belt policies.
The Parish Council and residents, who have already seen this initial draft, have a strongly legitimate expectation that the strategic direction established through that Neighbourhood Plan process will carry weight in the preparation of the new Local Plan.
If Cheshire East considers allocating significantly more development than enshrined in the Neighbourhood Plan, it must provide robust evidence demonstrating why circumstances have changed sufficiently to justify departing from the community’s recently endorsed vision.
Having reviewed the suggestions in the Local Plan we note that a substantial development of houses around the village would change the character of the village and would not be consistent with the adopted Neighbourhood Plan.
Furthermore, the lack of sufficient infrastructure, facilities and public transport links must also be considered in this consultation stage as we consider the suggested developments would not be sustainable.
Finally, further consideration should be given to the requirement to alter Green Belt boundaries in the village as we consider this to be inconsistent with the guidance in changes to Green Belt policy, and development to Brownfield sites as a priority and a lack of any exceptional circumstances.