Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 5792

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Marrons

the Plan period, consistent with the overarching objective of national planning policy to significantly boost the supply of homes. At a minimum, the Local Plan should make provision for housing growth equivalent to the identified local housing need of 2,530 dwellings per annum. In circumstances where allocations contained within the CELPS or the Site Allocations and Development Policies Document (SADPD) have not come forward as anticipated, the Council should review whether they remain suitable for inclusion within the new Local Plan. Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) confirms that factors such as the length of time a site has been allocated, its planning history, and whether circumstances have changed since allocation in a way that has reduced the likelihood of development proceeding as originally intended should be taken into account when considering whether there is a realistic prospect of delivery. A number of significant strategic allocations identified within the CELPS have failed to deliver development at the rate or scale envisaged at the time of adoption in 2017. The evidence base prepared in support of the new Local Plan should therefore examine the reasons for this underperformance to ensure that lessons are learned and repeated shortcomings are avoided. This will assist in ensuring that future allocations comprise sites that are genuinely available, suitable and developable, including Miller Homes' land interest at Cemetery Road, Weston. Policy HO1 of the NPPF confirms that development plans should be informed by an assessment of the size, type and tenure of homes, together with the housing needs of different groups within the community. Miller Homes considers that the most effective means of meeting these needs is through a positive and ambitious strategy for housing growth. The allocation of a sufficient supply of deliverable housing land in sustainable locations, such as Miller Homes' land interest at Cemetery Road, Weston, that can come forward to meet housing needs in the short term will help maintain a plan-led approach. Where housing delivery fails to keep pace with identified need, the consequences are felt across all sectors of the community. Accordingly, the evidence base supporting the new Local Plan should assess not only the economic and social benefits associated with housing delivery, but also the implications of failing to pursue an ambitious strategy capable of meeting the needs of existing and future residents throughout the Plan period. The Scoping Consultation confirms that a Housing Needs Assessment will be prepared to consider matters including affordable housing needs, housing for older people, specialist accommodation, self-build and custom housebuilding, and the appropriate mix of dwelling sizes and tenures across the borough. When translating this future evidence base into planning policy, sufficient flexibility must be retained to respond to needs and circumstances that may not have been foreseeable when the Local Plan and supporting evidence were prepared. Any policies introduced to address identified housing needs should therefore incorporate an appropriate degree of flexibility, recognising that housing requirements are likely to evolve over the lifetime of the Plan. An overly prescriptive approach risks creating unnecessary barriers to development and undermining the future plan-led approach. Flexibility is now encouraged in national planning policy, with NPPF Policy HO8 stating that a flexible approach should be applied to development plan requirements relating to the number of bedrooms provided within market housing schemes that meet or exceed up-to-date development plan requirements for the proportion and tenure mix of affordable housing. This flexible approach must be reflected in any local policies on housing mix progressed through the new Local Plan.

Copilot said:
Miller Homes considers that the new Local Plan should adopt a positive and ambitious approach to housing growth, providing at least 2,530 homes annually. It recommends reviewing existing allocations that have not delivered as anticipated and identifying genuinely available, suitable and developable sites, including its land at Cemetery Road, Weston. The evidence base should examine previous under-delivery and the consequences of failing to meet housing needs. Miller Homes also supports assessing affordable, specialist and older persons’ housing needs. However, it argues that future housing policies, particularly those concerning housing mix, should retain sufficient flexibility to respond to changing needs and avoid barriers to delivery.

Comment

Representation ID: 5793

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Marrons

Miller Homes considers that the settlement hierarchy should be reassessed as part of the
preparation of the new Local Plan. The role and function of Weston must be considered within
this exercise, in the context of the growth it has experienced over the past decade and its
characteristics as a well-connected and well-served settlement. These factors should result in
the settlement being promoted within the settlement hierarchy to a Local Service Centre.

Comment

Representation ID: 5794

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Marrons

Miller Homes considers that the Council should review its Strategic Green Gap policy, arguing that some designated gaps around Crewe are larger than necessary to maintain settlement separation and identity. It highlights existing physical barriers and recent planning permissions within the Green Gap as evidence that the current policy is outdated and ineffective. Miller Homes considers that any approach should reflect national policy requiring settlement gaps to be designated only where necessary and to be no larger than required. It therefore argues that the Council should not carry forward Green Gap or settlement separation policies into the new Cheshire East Local Plan.

Comment

Representation ID: 5798

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Marrons

Miller Homes requests that a further Call for Sites exercise be undertaken before the initial
assessment process commences to ensure that all sites with the potential to be allocated have
been identified and can be assessed as part of the exercise.

Comment

Representation ID: 5802

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Marrons

Miller Homes notes that the new Local Plan is being prepared alongside the Cheshire and Warrington Spatial Development Strategy (SDS), which will provide a strategic framework for growth, including housing distribution and broad development locations. As the Local Plan is likely to be prepared and adopted before the SDS, it may need to address strategic matters that would otherwise be covered by the SDS. However, the Local Plan will ultimately need to be in general conformity with it. Given that both documents are evolving, Miller Homes reserves the right to make further representations as further information becomes available.

Comment

Representation ID: 5804

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Marrons

Miller Homes notes the introduction of National Decision-Making Policies (NDMPs) and their implications for preparing the new Local Plan. It highlights that Local Plans should not duplicate, substantively repeat or conflict with matters already addressed through national policy. Miller Homes therefore considers that the Cheshire East Local Plan should adopt a streamlined approach, concentrating on policies and requirements that are locally specific to Cheshire East rather than repeating provisions contained within NDMPs. This would avoid unnecessary duplication and ensure that the Local Plan focuses on matters where locally specific planning policies are required.

Comment

Representation ID: 5808

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Marrons

Miller Homes considers that the new Local Plan should be supported by a robust and comprehensive Viability Assessment, reflecting all proposed policy requirements, infrastructure contributions and development obligations. This should enable stakeholders to understand and comment on the potential costs and ensure policies do not undermine development viability. Miller Homes also recommends preparing the assessment alongside an Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP). The IDP should identify the infrastructure required to support planned growth, assess associated costs and funding gaps, and establish clear mechanisms for addressing any shortfalls, ensuring that the Local Plan’s development strategy is deliverable.