Cheshire East Council’s much-delayed Local Plan is finally being re-submitted for inspection – two years after its original effort was handed in.
Council bosses have been revising the Local Plan after staging a NINTH public consultation exercise.
The Plan, which will shape development across the borough up to 2030, will now be forwarded to Planning Inspector Stephen Pratt.
Many campaigners say a delay in having a Local Plan adopted has left the door open for developers to build on green sites such as Nantwich, Willaston, Wistaston and Shavington.
Council chiefs called it “regrettable” when they were told to make significant changes to its original Plan submitted in May 2014.
Cheshire East says it has received 19,572 representations from 4,679 members of the public or groups during the most recent consultation.
Cllr Ainsley Arnold (pictured) who is now overseeing the process, said: “There has been a tremendous response from residents and other stakeholders during this latest – and nine previous – rounds of public consultations on our Local Plan proposals.
“This must be one of the most-consulted on Local Plans in the country.
“However, given the changes made during examination and the significance of the plan, it was only right people have been given full opportunity to reflect on this document and give their views.
“To date, we have received a total of more than 60,000 responses in the various consultations to arrive at our draft LPS.
“This is an unprecedented level of interest in a council consultation process.
“I am pleased the revised document is going forward and I am confident the LPS is comprehensive and robust.
“The LPS includes a comprehensive suite of development sites to accommodate larger scale of growth now expected and planned for in the borough.
“The council is now looking forward to it being positively received and for the inspector’s examination hearings to resume in early autumn.”
Key revisions have been made on housing, economic growth, development and green belt.
Changes have been signed off under authority delegated to officers by full council.
The council says full details will be made available online soon.
Cllr Arnold added: “The council is confident this Local Plan Strategy is comprehensive, fully consulted upon and robust – and we look forward towards its successful adoption.”
View the Local Plan Strategy documents suite, visit the link here
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