Local plan scoping consultation
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Local plan scoping consultation
Identifying and assessing sites
Representation ID: 5833
Received: 27/08/2026
Respondent: Alison Small
The respondent calls for greater transparency in the Local Plan process, requesting publication of site assessment criteria and scoring before initial assessments are released. They argue Cheshire East should demonstrate that housing needs cannot be met through brownfield, previously developed, and sustainable greenfield sites before considering Green Belt release. Any Green Belt assessments should examine contribution to Green Belt purposes, environmental and landscape value, infrastructure capacity, sustainability, and proximity to employment. Housing allocations should reflect local affordable housing needs. The respondent also seeks clarity on potential Green Belt releases, particularly proposals around Adlington, and questions the strategic justification for large-scale development there.
Comment
Local plan scoping consultation
Green Belt
Representation ID: 5835
Received: 27/08/2026
Respondent: Alison Small
The respondent welcomes Cheshire East Council’s commitment to preparing a comprehensive Green Belt Assessment and urges its publication as soon as possible to provide a consistent strategic framework for decision-making. They argue that Green Belt release should be guided by borough-wide evidence assessing openness, Green Belt purposes, settlement separation, landscape character, biodiversity, agriculture, and cumulative impacts. Concerns are raised about speculative planning applications, particularly given the lack of a five-year housing land supply, and the need for an Interim Housing Policy Statement. The respondent also seeks consideration of cross-boundary development impacts and clear application of the NPPF definition of well-connected railway stations.
Comment
Local plan scoping consultation
Spatial distribution
Representation ID: 5838
Received: 27/08/2026
Respondent: Alison Small
The respondent supports a dispersed approach to housing growth rather than relying on a few large new settlements. They argue development should be distributed across Cheshire East in locations that meet housing and employment needs, utilise brownfield land, make use of existing infrastructure, and support town regeneration. A dispersed strategy is considered more deliverable, cost-effective, and socially beneficial, helping to speed up housing delivery, locate affordable housing closer to jobs, minimise population displacement, and support towns such as Crewe and Macclesfield. The respondent also believes this approach would maximise existing infrastructure, encourage economic regeneration, attract investment, and reduce overall development and delivery risks.
Comment
Local plan scoping consultation
Development in the countryside
Representation ID: 5839
Received: 27/08/2026
Respondent: Alison Small
Cheshire East should take a balanced, county-wide approach to housing delivery, ensuring
development reflects where housing need, employment and infrastructure are located rather
than concentrating growth disproportionately in particular areas.
• Cheshire East’s housing requirement should be assessed against existing
commitments, brownfield opportunities and sites identified through the call for sites.
The evidence cited suggests there is significant potential to meet the requirement
through a range of sites across the borough.
• Housing growth should broadly reflect the geography of housing need and
employment, helping to reduce commuting and pressure on already constrained
transport networks.
• Development should be directed towards locations where transport, schools,
healthcare, utilities and community facilities already exist or can be expanded
alongside growth. This is likely to be more sustainable and deliverable than relying on
locations requiring major new infrastructure.
Comment
Local plan scoping consultation
Housing
Representation ID: 5840
Received: 27/08/2026
Respondent: Alison Small
Cheshire East should take a balanced, county-wide approach to housing delivery, ensuring
development reflects where housing need, employment and infrastructure are located rather
than concentrating growth disproportionately in particular areas.
• Cheshire East’s housing requirement should be assessed against existing
commitments, brownfield opportunities and sites identified through the call for sites.
The evidence cited suggests there is significant potential to meet the requirement
through a range of sites across the borough.
• Housing growth should broadly reflect the geography of housing need and
employment, helping to reduce commuting and pressure on already constrained
transport networks.
• Development should be directed towards locations where transport, schools,
healthcare, utilities and community facilities already exist or can be expanded
alongside growth. This is likely to be more sustainable and deliverable than relying on
locations requiring major new infrastructure.
Comment
Local plan scoping consultation
Affordable housing
Representation ID: 5841
Received: 27/08/2026
Respondent: Alison Small
Social and affordable housing should be delivered where the
need is greatest and as quickly as possible.
• Approximately 60% of Cheshire East’s social housing need is in the south,
particularly around Crewe, with around 40% in the north. Housing allocations should
therefore reflect this distribution of need.
• The Council should prioritise sites capable of delivering social housing in the short
term, rather than relying on schemes where delivery may be delayed by the need for
major supporting infrastructure.
• Dispersing social and affordable housing across existing communities can
provide better access to employment, services and transport, while making better
use of existing infrastructure.
Comment
Local plan scoping consultation
Housing diversification and providing for small and medium sized sites
Representation ID: 5842
Received: 27/08/2026
Respondent: Alison Small
We agree the importance of providing a portion of smaller sites,
which will be attractive to local SME building companies, and help support the local
economy (such sites need to meet all the criteria for releasing land, as set out in our response
to paras. 5.27 -5.29, particularly in the Green Belt)
Comment
Local plan scoping consultation
Waste
Representation ID: 5844
Received: 27/08/2026
Respondent: Alison Small
A plan should be set out to ensure that there are sufficient
accessible Refuse Sites for any new development. Locally, the closure of three around the
Poynton/Bollington Towns means that these basic public services are not provided in these
locations. Travelling to the south side of Macclesfield is not sustainable, and contrary to the
current government focus on eliminating illegal dumping of waste.
Comment
Local plan scoping consultation
Transport and infrastructure
Representation ID: 5847
Received: 27/08/2026
Respondent: Alison Small
The respondent argues that infrastructure should be delivered ahead of development, with the Local Plan adopting an infrastructure-led approach rather than relying on infrastructure to follow housing growth. They stress that transport, utilities, public transport, and active travel networks must be fully funded and operational before significant housing occupation to avoid car dependency and pressure on existing systems. Concerns are raised about existing road and rail capacity constraints, particularly in areas such as Adlington. The respondent also highlights current pressures on healthcare and education services, arguing that additional GP, hospital, primary, and secondary school capacity should be planned and provided before substantial new development takes place.
Comment
Local plan scoping consultation
Natural environment
Representation ID: 5848
Received: 27/08/2026
Respondent: Alison Small
Resisting Green Belt land release in the open countryside will help protect valuable habitats and ensure nature corridors remain open. Biodiversity reports
should be commissioned for any land considered and the findings assessed before land is
considered for release.
