Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 5928

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Bruntwood MTL Limited

Agent: Asteer Planning

Bruntwood supports a comprehensive and impartial review of Green Belt land across Cheshire East, including identification of areas meeting the NPPF definition of Grey Belt. They consider this necessary given the scale of development required through the new Local Plan. The Green Belt review should be considered alongside housing and employment needs, the emerging spatial strategy and the sustainability and deliverability of individual sites. Bruntwood argues that potential Green Belt release should also be assessed in relation to existing settlements, accessibility to services and facilities, transport connections and opportunities to create sustainable patterns of development.

Comment

Representation ID: 5929

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Bruntwood MTL Limited

Agent: Asteer Planning

Bruntwood supports an evidence-led review of the settlement hierarchy that reflects the current and future roles of settlements, including access to services, employment, public transport and housing markets and their capacity for sustainable growth. They consider that Principal Towns and Key Service Centres should continue to accommodate a significant proportion of future development due to their established infrastructure, facilities and accessibility. Bruntwood argues that the settlement hierarchy should also recognise future potential and provide a framework for directing growth towards locations where development can be accommodated sustainably while supporting the long-term vitality and resilience of existing communities.

Comment

Representation ID: 5930

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Bruntwood MTL Limited

Agent: Asteer Planning

Bruntwood supports a balanced and sustainable spatial strategy informed by housing and employment needs, infrastructure capacity, accessibility, commuting patterns and settlement function. They consider that Principal Towns and Key Service Centres should remain a key focus for future growth because of their existing infrastructure, services, facilities and capacity to accommodate additional development. Growth should be directed towards locations offering sustainable access to employment, services and facilities while supporting existing settlements and making effective use of infrastructure. Bruntwood also advocates maximising opportunities to reuse previously developed and under-utilised land as part of the Borough’s future development strategy.

Comment

Representation ID: 5931

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Bruntwood MTL Limited

Agent: Asteer Planning

Bruntwood highlights the significant increase in Cheshire East’s housing requirement and the Council’s current housing land supply position. They argue that the Local Plan should provide a resilient and flexible portfolio of deliverable sites capable of maintaining a five-year housing land supply and reducing reliance on speculative applications. Bruntwood supports an updated Housing Needs Assessment and a positive approach to meeting identified needs. They advocate maximising vacant, under-utilised and previously developed land alongside strategic urban extensions and sustainable greenfield sites to make efficient use of existing settlements and infrastructure and maintain housing delivery throughout the Plan period.

Comment

Representation ID: 5932

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Bruntwood MTL Limited

Agent: Asteer Planning

Bruntwood supports that CEC have identified Affordable Housing as a principal issue for consideration through the new Local Plan. However, Bruntwood considers that this is intrinsically linked to the point above regarding meeting overall housing needs. Affordable housing is principally delivered through market-led residential development, so the Plan will need to allocate a sufficient number of viable housing sites capable of delivering affordable homes alongside market housing.

Comment

Representation ID: 5933

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Bruntwood MTL Limited

Agent: Asteer Planning

Bruntwood supports the opportunity identified by CEC to review and update the housing mix policies within the emerging Local Plan. Bruntwood considers that a flexible approach should be implemented, which enables development to respond to local needs rather than having a broad brush approach across the Borough. A flexible policy approach should reflect local circumstances across the borough, respond to market demands, and remain flexible to changes such as demographic change throughout the Plan period.

Comment

Representation ID: 5934

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Bruntwood MTL Limited

Agent: Asteer Planning

Bruntwood supports climate-resilient development and considers the reuse of previously developed and under-utilised land an important part of sustainable planning. They advocate making effective use of existing infrastructure, services and sustainable transport connections and reviewing vacant or under-performing employment sites. Where continued employment use is no longer realistic, Bruntwood considers that sites should be assessed for potential housing or mixed-use redevelopment. They argue that regeneration of existing sites can reduce pressure on undeveloped land, make efficient use of infrastructure and provide sustainable, deliverable development opportunities while supporting the long-term resilience of Cheshire East’s settlements.

Comment

Representation ID: 5935

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Bruntwood MTL Limited

Agent: Asteer Planning

Bruntwood supports a comprehensive and updated evidence base to identify sustainable and deliverable development locations. They call for detailed assessment of urban capacity, previously developed and under-utilised land and employment sites, considering their suitability, availability, market attractiveness and deliverability. Where employment sites are no longer viable or required, potential housing or mixed-use redevelopment should be assessed. Bruntwood also calls for previously developed land to be fully reflected in the Land Availability Assessment. They consider that a borough-wide Green Belt Review should form part of the evidence base, including assessment of previously developed Green Belt land and potential Grey Belt.

Comment

Representation ID: 5936

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Bruntwood MTL Limited

Agent: Asteer Planning

Bruntwood supports a positive and flexible Local Plan that meets Cheshire East’s housing, employment and infrastructure needs while making efficient use of existing settlements and land. They advocate prioritising vacant, under-utilised and previously developed sites, including suitable employment and Grey Belt land, for potential housing or mixed-use redevelopment. However, Bruntwood considers that sustainable edge-of-settlement and greenfield sites will also be necessary to meet development needs, particularly around Principal Towns and Key Service Centres. They call for comprehensive assessment of opportunities and constraints and a flexible spatial strategy capable of responding to changing market and delivery circumstances.