Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 3814

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

he Plan should retain and strengthen requirements for accessible, adaptable and appropriately sized homes, reflecting Cheshire East’s ageing population and future needs. It should also consider tighter water-efficiency standards given climate change and increasing pressure on water resources. All new homes should meet the Nationally Described Space Standard unless clear evidence demonstrates otherwise. These standards should be applied consistently and not weakened solely on the basis of developer viability where needs are clearly evidenced.

Comment

Representation ID: 3815

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The Plan should ensure HMOs meet genuine local housing need without creating excessive concentrations that undermine balanced communities. Policy should consider cumulative impacts on parking, traffic, waste, noise, residential amenity and the character of neighbourhoods. Clear thresholds or controls on HMO concentration should be considered where evidence demonstrates harm, alongside appropriate standards for management, space, parking and waste provision.

Comment

Representation ID: 3816

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

Existing local housing policies should be retained where they provide important protection for residential amenity and local character, even where similar principles exist in national policy. Particular consideration should be given to backland development, dwelling subdivision, density, spacing, overlooking, privacy, gardens and the cumulative impact of development. Design codes should complement, rather than replace, clear and enforceable planning policies.

Comment

Representation ID: 3819

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The evidence shows employment growth has significantly exceeded the previous target, while 375 hectares of employment land remains available. The new Plan should therefore avoid allocating unnecessary additional employment land without clear evidence of need and deliverability. Priority should be given to making effective use of existing employment land and suitable brownfield sites, while protecting valuable agricultural land, countryside and environmental assets. Economic growth should also support local communities through sustainable transport, infrastructure and access to quality jobs.

Comment

Representation ID: 3822

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The Plan should prioritise the regeneration of existing town centres and vacant or underused buildings before allowing further out-of-centre development. Town centre strategies should improve accessibility by public transport, walking and cycling, provide adequate parking, protect community facilities and incorporate green infrastructure. Any residential growth should be carefully designed to maintain balanced, vibrant centres while managing impacts such as noise, parking and pressure on existing services.

Comment

Representation ID: 3824

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The minerals strategy should balance the need for nationally important minerals with protection of local communities and the environment. Any proposed extraction should consider traffic, noise, air quality, water, landscape, biodiversity, agricultural land and cumulative impacts, with robust restoration requirements. The Plan should also prioritise recycled and secondary aggregates where possible and demonstrate that new extraction is genuinely necessary before allocating sites, particularly where extraction would affect valued countryside or communities.

Comment

Representation ID: 3828

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The Plan should prioritise waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting before residual waste treatment or disposal. Any new waste facilities should be located where they can be safely accommodated without unacceptable impacts on local communities, traffic, air quality, noise, odour, water or biodiversity. The Plan should also consider the cumulative impact of waste facilities and ensure that local communities are not disproportionately burdened by waste infrastructure.

Comment

Representation ID: 3830

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

Infrastructure capacity must be a fundamental constraint on where and how much development is planned. Development should not be approved on the assumption that infrastructure will be upgraded later. The Infrastructure Delivery Plan should identify existing capacity and committed funding before sites are allocated, including roads, public transport, schools, healthcare, drainage, water, electricity and telecommunications. Major developments should provide necessary infrastructure at the appropriate stage, with cumulative impacts on existing communities fully assessed.

Comment

Representation ID: 3833

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

The Local Plan should place strong protection of nature, biodiversity, wildlife and valued landscapes at the heart of its spatial strategy. Development should avoid areas of high ecological, landscape or agricultural value rather than relying on mitigation after allocation. The Plan should protect and restore ancient woodland, hedgerows, trees, peat and wildlife corridors, support the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, and consider biodiversity net gain above national minimum requirements where justified. Cumulative environmental impacts must be properly assessed.

Comment

Representation ID: 3834

Received: 31/08/2026

Respondent: Dr Gemma Jackson

Health and wellbeing should be treated as a fundamental consideration when deciding where development is located, not simply as an outcome of good design. The Plan should assess access to healthcare, schools, employment, shops, public transport, green space and community facilities, alongside air quality, noise, traffic and pollution. New development should provide or contribute to the infrastructure needed to support healthy communities and should not place unacceptable additional pressure on already stretched local services.