Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 3331

Received: 30/08/2026

Respondent: Mr Peter Emery

The plan should set out to ensure that there are sufficient accessible Refuse Sites for any new development. Locally, the closure of three around the Poynton/Bollington Towns means that these basic public services are not provided in these locations. Travelling to the south side of Macclesfield at the Moss is not sustainable and contrary to the current government focus on eliminating illegal dumping of waste. The closed refuse sites should be reopened to meet local needs.

Comment

Representation ID: 3333

Received: 30/08/2026

Respondent: Mr Peter Emery

The Local Plan must identify existing capacities of all forms of physical infrastructure and support services and identify potential opportunities for increasing them.
As an objective the plan should require infrastructure-led development rather than development-led infrastructure.

All forms of travel infrastructure should be fully funded and delivered in advance of significant housing and employment occupation.

Without this approach, there is a substantial risk that large developments become heavily skewed towards those that own and drive a car which places unacceptable pressure on existing infrastructure. This is particularly relevant where current road and rail networks experience congestion and capacity constraints.

Comment

Representation ID: 3339

Received: 30/08/2026

Respondent: Mr Peter Emery

Land, including Green Belt land, should not be allocated and released for development where it contains ancient and more recent woodland, groups or mature single trees, important hedgerows and lakes and ponds and waterways which provide established and valuable habitats supporting biodiversity but need protection to ensure nature corridors remain open.
Biodiversity reports should be commissioned for any land considered for release and the findings assessed and published before land is allocated for development.
Weight should be given to input from Cheshire Wildlife Trust and how the land has been identified in the Cheshire and Warrington Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Comment

Representation ID: 3343

Received: 30/08/2026

Respondent: Mr Peter Emery

The local plan must gather evidence that healthcare infrastructure and education facilities can accommodate proposed growth.
Where developments are of sufficient scale to require new GP surgeries/community health facilities or hospital capacity and primary/secondary school provision, these should be planned alongside housing delivery and occupation.
Research has identified that health infrastructure around Poynton/Bollington and hospital provision in Macclesfield is at capacity. Similarly, secondary school provision in Macclesfield is at capacity and provision of new primary schools provision would need to be addressed through S.106 agreements.
Health and educational infrastructure must be available before large housing developments are commenced and occupied.

Comment

Representation ID: 3344

Received: 30/08/2026

Respondent: Mr Peter Emery

Please see comments in response to health and well-being above - paras. 5.104 -5.108.

Comment

Representation ID: 3345

Received: 30/08/2026

Respondent: Mr Peter Emery

Cheshire East’s agricultural land contributes to domestic food production and long-term national food security. Its favourable agricultural conditions, including relatively high rainfall, make protecting productive farmland an important planning consideration. Agricultural land that is in productive use therefore, should be protected from unnecessary development to safeguard food production and this strategic resource for future generations.

Comment

Representation ID: 3346

Received: 30/08/2026

Respondent: Mr Peter Emery

The local plan should require all new buildings and extensions, including industrial and commercial ones, to utilise on-site technologies such as solar panels, heat pumps and wind energy with suitable battery storage systems and insulation to minimise energy demand.
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Comment

Representation ID: 3349

Received: 30/08/2026

Respondent: Mr Peter Emery

With reference to para 5.42, the methodology to be used for site assessment and selection needs to be set out and published. It should be in line with guidance provided by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Local Government Association’s Planning Advisory Service.

Comment

Representation ID: 3350

Received: 30/08/2026

Respondent: Mr Peter Emery

The Local Plan process needs to involve sufficient meaningful and widespread community engagement. As noted above, the timing for this initial scoping consultation and timing of responses on a bank holiday was unfortunate, as was the lack of any prior engagement with local councils.

Successful strategic planning depends upon early, meaningful and ongoing engagement with local communities.

Comment

Representation ID: 3357

Received: 30/08/2026

Respondent: Mr Peter Emery

The Local Plan should emphasise that proposals for major developments should involve elected representatives, town and parish councils, residents and community organisations from the earliest stages of plan preparation so as to demonstrate that they command public confidence.

Recent proposals for a New Town at Adlington illustrate many of these wider planning challenges, and the pitfalls. Large-scale developments would have implications beyond the immediate site, affecting wider transport corridors including the roads, rail services, and utilities, healthcare and education infrastructure. Strategic developments can have borough-wide impacts that extend well beyond their boundaries and will raise widespread concerns.