Local plan scoping consultation

I am writing to formally object to proposals to use Green Belt and Grey Belt land for new housing development, particularly where suitable previously developed or existing sites could instead be regenerated and brought back into productive use.
I fully recognise the need for additional housing in Cheshire East and the importance of delivering homes to meet local needs. However, I believe that development should follow a clear principle of regeneration and brownfield-first development before releasing protected land.

My concerns are as follows:
• Protecting the Green Belt: Green Belt land performs an important role in preventing urban sprawl, protecting the character of the countryside and maintaining separation between settlements. Once developed, it is effectively lost permanently.
• Questionable use of Grey Belt land: The designation of land as "Grey Belt" should not automatically be treated as justification for housing development. Each site should be assessed carefully, including its environmental, landscape and infrastructure implications.
• Regeneration should come first: Cheshire East contains existing buildings, previously developed land and underused sites that could potentially be regenerated. Priority should be given to bringing these sites back into use before releasing undeveloped countryside.
• Infrastructure pressures: New housing must be matched by appropriate investment in roads, public transport, schools, healthcare, drainage and other local services. Existing infrastructure in many communities is already under considerable pressure.
• Impact on local communities: Large developments can fundamentally alter the character and identity of established villages and towns. The cumulative impact of multiple developments should be considered rather than assessing each proposal in isolation.
• Environmental and landscape considerations: Undeveloped land provides valuable green space, wildlife habitat, natural drainage and carbon-storage benefits. These benefits should not be dismissed simply because land may fall within a Grey Belt classification.
• A genuinely sustainable approach: New housing should be directed towards locations where there is good access to existing employment, public transport, schools, shops and other services. Building on greenfield sites and subsequently trying to provide infrastructure is not necessarily the most sustainable solution.
•
I therefore ask Cheshire East Council to adopt a brownfield and regeneration-first approach, making full use of existing and previously developed sites before considering the release of Green Belt or Grey Belt land for housing.
Where development of protected land is ultimately considered unavoidable, I would ask the Council to demonstrate clearly why suitable alternatives have been exhausted and why the particular site represents the most appropriate and sustainable option.
The need for housing should not be used as a reason to bypass the principle of sensible planning and regeneration. Cheshire East should seek to accommodate growth while protecting the countryside, environmental assets and character of the communities that make the borough an attractive place to live.

I respectfully ask that this objection is recorded and taken into account when considering the relevant planning proposals and future Local Plan policies.