draft CEC Local Plan report

Cheshire East has until end of July to submit more evidence in its fight to get a Local Plan recognised.

The new deadline has been set by planning inspectors to take account of the general and local elections.

Cheshire East was criticised last year after inspectors said the proposed Local Plan, which took five years to draft, did not address housing supply needs.

It meant the authority was forced to spend another £3.7 million on a revised version and at least a six-month delay in the Plan being formally adopted.

The Plan is designed to be a blueprint for development in the borough up to 2030, and will be used by campaign groups to fend off unwanted developments.

The new timetable now allows the council to hold engagement sessions after the elections.

Caroline Simpson, Cheshire East executive director of economic growth and prosperity, said: “We welcome the agreed timetable because it avoids conflict with the busy election period.

“We look forward to submitting our revised evidence base in July and resuming the examination at the end of the summer.”

It comes as planning officers have recommended a developer’s bid to build 100 homes in Willaston, Nantwich, for refusal.

The plan by Wainhomes for houses off Cheerbrook Road has been recommended for refusal when it goes before the Strategic Planning Board, because of its impact on the Green Gap, loss of agricultural land, and impact on traffic.

Cllr Brian Silvester, of Willaston and Rope ward, said: “The proposed development caused a lot of concern because of the possibility of yet further loss of Green Gap land in the village.

“The residents in Cheerbrook Road and The Fields already have 21 houses being built by Wainhomes next to them and they did not want a further 100 to be built.

“I applaud the 80 residents who wrote in to object and the support given to residents’ objections by the Parish Council.

“This campaign shows residents can be successful if they campaign hard and make valid planning objections known.”

Wainhomes could appeal against the decision if the plan is rejected at the planning board on Wednesday April 15.

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