Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 3799

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The spatial strategy should give greater weight to environmental constraints, infrastructure capacity and the protection of existing communities when distributing development. Brownfield and opportunities within existing settlements should be prioritised before edge-of-settlement growth, urban extensions or new settlements. Any large-scale development should demonstrate that roads, public transport, schools, healthcare, drainage and utilities can support it, alongside assessment of cumulative impacts on farmland, biodiversity, wildlife, landscape and settlement character

Comment

Representation ID: 3800

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

Local policies should provide clear, locally specific protections where Cheshire East has particular environmental, infrastructure or community constraints. The approach should not rely solely on balancing the general benefits of development against adverse effects. Local policies should clearly address issues such as traffic, flooding, drainage, biodiversity, wildlife, agricultural land, landscape, settlement character and infrastructure capacity, ensuring development is genuinely sustainable and appropriate to its location.

Comment

Representation ID: 3802

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The new Local Plan should retain strong, locally specific policies protecting the countryside from inappropriate development. Policies should recognise the importance of agricultural land, wildlife, biodiversity, landscape character, green infrastructure and the distinct identity of rural communities. Any development outside settlements should demonstrate a clear need for that location, be appropriate to its scale and character, and have sufficient infrastructure without creating unacceptable impacts on roads, drainage or existing communities.

Comment

Representation ID: 3805

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The Housing Needs Assessment should establish not only the quantity of housing required, but whether proposed housing meets the needs of existing and future communities. This should include genuinely affordable homes, suitable homes for older people and families, and the right mix of sizes and tenures. The Plan should also consider whether new housing is located where residents can access employment, schools, healthcare, shops and public transport, rather than treating housing numbers alone as the measure of success.

Comment

Representation ID: 3806

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The Plan should use the evidence that affordable housing delivery has exceeded the current requirement and ensure future provision reflects actual local need. Affordable housing should be genuinely accessible to local households, with sufficient social rent provision and an appropriate mix of sizes and tenures. The Council should also consider affordability at settlement level and ensure affordable homes are delivered alongside development, rather than allowing housing growth to increase pressure on existing communities without addressing local housing needs.

Comment

Representation ID: 3807

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The Housing Needs Assessment should ensure housing mix reflects actual local need at settlement level, rather than applying a borough-wide approach. New developments should provide an appropriate range of genuinely affordable homes, family homes, smaller homes and accessible homes for older and disabled residents. The Plan should also ensure larger developments create balanced, sustainable communities with appropriate infrastructure and services, rather than simply maximising housing numbers.

Comment

Representation ID: 3809

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The Plan should ensure specialist and accessible housing is located where residents can easily access healthcare, shops, community facilities and public transport. The Housing Needs Assessment should identify need across individual settlements, not just borough-wide, and consider whether existing services and infrastructure can support specialist developments. New homes should also be designed to be adaptable and accessible from the outset, reducing future pressure on specialist accommodation and care services.

Comment

Representation ID: 3810

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The updated GTANA should establish the genuine level and geographical distribution of need across Cheshire East before sites are identified. Site selection should consider access to services, healthcare, education, transport and infrastructure, alongside environmental, landscape, flooding and biodiversity constraints. Any proposed sites or extensions should be subject to transparent assessment and meaningful consultation with affected communities, with provision distributed appropriately rather than concentrated in particular rural areas.

Comment

Representation ID: 3811

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The Plan should support self-build and custom-build housing where there is demonstrated local demand, while ensuring such provision forms part of a balanced housing mix. Requirements on larger developments should be proportionate and based on evidence of unmet need. The Council should also ensure serviced plots are genuinely deliverable and remain available to those on the register, rather than being used as a mechanism to increase overall development capacity.

Comment

Representation ID: 3813

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

Small and medium-sized sites should not be allocated simply to meet numerical targets. Site selection should consider settlement capacity, infrastructure, accessibility, landscape, biodiversity, agricultural land and the character of local communities. The Plan should support appropriate small-scale development that genuinely helps rural communities and local services, but should avoid using the requirement for smaller sites to justify disproportionate or unsustainable development in villages and rural areas.