Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 3936

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The staged approach is useful, but the engagement should not rely mainly on briefings, media and online consultation. There should be clear, accessible opportunities for residents and parish councils to engage with spatial options and proposed site allocations, particularly where significant development is proposed. The Council should publish consultation materials in plain English, including maps and site assessments, with sufficient time for meaningful responses. It should also clarify the distinction between the two Vision and Spatial Options stages and explain how feedback from each stage will influence the next. Any changes resulting from consultation should be clearly reported.

Comment

Representation ID: 3939

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The broad stakeholder list is welcome, but the Council should ensure that smaller community groups, residents’ associations and parish councils are not overlooked in favour of larger organisations or statutory consultees. The Stakeholder Register should be regularly reviewed and publicly explain how under-represented communities will be identified and engaged. The Council should also ensure that consultation notifications are accessible and provide sufficient time for meaningful responses. Given the scale of proposed growth, particular attention should be given to communities directly affected by potential development sites and infrastructure changes.

Comment

Representation ID: 3942

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The commitment to monitoring engagement is welcome, but participation levels alone should not determine whether engagement has been effective. The Council should assess who is not engaging, why they may be excluded, and whether particular communities or affected areas are under-represented. Consultation outcomes should clearly distinguish between the number of responses and the substance of concerns raised, rather than allowing high response volumes to outweigh important local evidence. Published summaries should explain how key issues influenced decisions and why particular suggestions were accepted or rejected.

Comment

Representation ID: 4033

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The scoping consultation is welcome, but it should make clearer how responses will influence the Local Plan, particularly given the significant changes since 2024. The Council should explain what has changed as a result of the previous consultation and how previous responses will be carried forward. It is also important that residents understand that sites are not being considered at this stage, and when and how they will subsequently be able to comment on proposed sites. Early engagement should provide sufficient opportunity for communities to influence the principles and strategy before specific development sites are assessed.

Comment

Representation ID: 4035

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The consultation portal does not support the Council’s stated commitment to inclusive, accessible and meaningful engagement. It is extremely text-heavy, lengthy and difficult to navigate, creating a barrier for residents without planning knowledge, limited time or digital confidence. Simply publishing information online does not make consultation accessible. The Council should provide plain-English summaries, concise questions, clear navigation, visual material, maps and diagrams, making it easier for residents to understand what is being asked and respond meaningfully. The current format risks limiting participation to those already familiar with planning and undermining the Council’s commitment to representative community engagement.

Comment

Representation ID: 4036

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The range of response methods is welcome, but the emphasis on online responses being more efficient should not discourage email or written submissions. Given the acknowledged barriers to digital engagement, all response methods should be treated equally and assessed on the substance of representations rather than the method used. The Council should also ensure that residents can easily identify which consultation question or section their comments relate to, particularly given the length and complexity of the consultation document.

Comment

Representation ID: 4037

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The Plan should make clear that growth must be sustainable, infrastructure-led and environmentally responsible, rather than treating development numbers as the starting point. New housing and employment should be directed towards locations with appropriate existing or planned infrastructure, services and sustainable transport. The Plan should also give equal weight to protecting Cheshire East’s agricultural land, Green Belt, wildlife, landscapes and heritage. Crucially, infrastructure must be delivered alongside development, not retrospectively, so existing communities are not left carrying the costs of growth.

Comment

Representation ID: 4040

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The increased housing requirement should not be presented simply as a number to accommodate. The Plan must demonstrate that 2,530 homes per year can be delivered sustainably and with sufficient infrastructure, while protecting communities, Green Belt, agricultural land, wildlife and landscape character. The Council should clearly assess whether existing infrastructure, including roads, public transport, schools, healthcare, water and utilities, can support this level of growth. Communities should not be expected to accept development where infrastructure cannot be delivered alongside it. The Plan should also prioritise brownfield and previously developed land before considering Green Belt release.

Comment

Representation ID: 4043

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The increased housing requirement should not be presented simply as a number to accommodate. The Plan must demonstrate that 2,530 homes per year can be delivered sustainably and with sufficient infrastructure, while protecting communities, Green Belt, agricultural land, wildlife and landscape character. The Council should clearly assess whether existing infrastructure, including roads, public transport, schools, healthcare, water and utilities, can support this level of growth. Communities should not be expected to accept development where infrastructure cannot be delivered alongside it. The Plan should also prioritise brownfield and previously developed land before considering Green Belt release.

Comment

Representation ID: 4045

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The scale of the increase to 2,530 homes per year requires much greater scrutiny. The Council should clearly demonstrate whether this figure reflects actual local housing need and deliverability, rather than simply treating the standard method as an automatic requirement. The consequences of the current housing supply shortfall, including pressure for development in the countryside and Green Belt, make it particularly important to identify sustainable alternatives first. The Plan should prioritise brownfield and previously developed land, regeneration and appropriate development within existing settlements before considering Green Belt release, while ensuring infrastructure and environmental capacity are fully assessed.