Local plan scoping consultation

There is limited mention of climate change mitigation or protection of the natural environment in this section.
As set out in the Land Use Framework for England (DEFRA 2026), a thriving natural environment and resilience to a changing climate are the foundations of our economy.
Cheshire East must have due regard to the Cheshire and Warrington Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) throughout development of the new plan. It should consider LNRS priorities, maps, and proposed measures. This obligation stems from the strengthened biodiversity duty under Section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, as amended by the Environment Act 2021 and strengthening through the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF 2026).
Similarly, to counter the effects of climate change, the Council should safeguard and improve carbon storage through nature-based solutions as set out in NPPF 2026.

Environmental protection is relegated to the end of a sub-clause in the benefits of the new Local Plan.
Environmental assets, including functional natural systems (habitats, soils, hydrology, groundwater, biodiversity etc), climate adaptation (flooding, heatwaves, drought etc), noise, pollution (including light pollution), and nutrient cycles should determine where development takes place, not be subservient factors in the pursuit of unconstrained economic growth.
The “standard method” is a crude approach to providing private-market dwellings. In the light of the re-focus by the current (Burnham-led) regime onto social housing, the “standard method” is unlikely to provide a realistic basis for housing requirements

The standard method effectively sets targets for private-market housing. The current government’s emphasis appears to be focused on social housing – How relevant is the standard method in the context of this change in national policy?
If the standard method is applied at each 5-year review of the plan, the baseline figure will inevitably increase at each review due to the number of dwellings built in the preceding period. This will result in perpetually increased housing requirement targets, which is untenable in a world of finite resources.

One of the key functions of Green Belt is to safeguard countryside from encroachment (NPPF, para. 143) . Countryside is essential in maintaining connectivity between ecologically valuable areas and where this function is evident, land should not be classified as “Grey Belt”.

Brownfield sites can support extremely valuable habitats and/or rare species if they have been abandoned for more than a few years. These sites should not be re-developed without a comprehensive ecological survey plus cost-benefit analysis, including a Natural Capital assessment using HM Treasury’s Green Book and supplementary ENCA (Encouraging a Natural Capital Approach) assessment.
The emphasis should be on regeneration of urban areas or, under exceptional circumstances, suburban areas, where the ecological value of the site is low.

The over-riding focus of the Cheshire & Warrington Combined Authority (CWCA) is economic growth - there is almost no mention of environmental issues in any of CWCA’s public information.
As part of its “…long-term, joined up approach to planning…” CWCA commits to starting work on a Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) as required under the Planning & Infrastructure Act 2026. Crucially, there is absolutely no mention of nature or climate crises in this commitment.
Many planners and economists seem unable to appreciate that under the impacts of climate breakdown, or failure of natural systems, there will be no economic growth.

There are significant anomalies in the transport network. East-West rail connectivity is minimal, while towns such as Macclesfield are heavily congested with private vehicles and take much of the HGV traffic between Derbyshire and the Cheshire Plain.
Space for new roads is minimal, environmentally inappropriate, and unacceptable to local communities. The new Local Plan should facilitate demand management by prioritising public transport, active travel, and enforcement of regulations.

There is little acknowledgement of landscape quality, natural habitats or environmental systems in this section, other than localised designated sites or attractions.
Cheshire East is a highly regarded and popular place to live, due in large part to its general attractiveness and diversity of landscapes. These should be protected and improved in their entirety, not just as “attractions” or variously designated outliers.
Cheshire East’s Landscape Character Assessment, which was amended in 2018 without adequate consultation, should be revised to accommodate public opinion.

The emphasis is on sustainable growth as the main driver, which is a traditional approach. It is also a recipe for repeating the mistakes of the past.
We have had two extraordinarily hot, dry summers in succession - 2025 was the hottest summer on record in UK – indeed the ten hottest years in UK have all occurred since 2000. This is described in the media as the new normal, but it is actually the coolest and most stable our climate and weather will be for many generations to come.
Similarly, nature is in steep and sustained decline. Pollinators, on which much of agriculture depends, have declined by over 17% in the last 50 years while pest controlling predators have declined by 34% over the same period due to habitat loss and climate change.
These are existential changes and plans for growth should be tailored to the carrying capacity of the natural environment, not the other way round.

Submitted sites that damage or destroy critical natural features must be rejected. These include all development on:
• Peatland
• Ancient woodland
• Unimproved grassland
• Wet woodland