A response has been submitted by Chelford Parish Council to the Cheshire East Local Plan Scoping Consultation.
This consultation is the first key stage, undertaken by Cheshire East Council, in preparing the new Local Plan. Residents are encouraged to also submit comments on the vision and priorities for the new Local Plan.
The consultation closes at 5pm on Tuesday 1st September 2026.
Responses submitted by Chelford Parish Council are listed in the order of the paragraph number of the consultation material.
3.4: Chelford Parish Council objects to the use of arbitrary methods to calculate housing targets. This approach neglects actual need within the area and causes significant pressures on existing infrastructure which cannot meet the demands of significant and unjustified development.
3.13: During the development of the last Local Plan a significant area of land was removed from the Green Belt to form ‘safeguarded land’ for longer term future development. Both parcels of safeguarded land have already been brought forward for development. Chelford must not be subject to further erosion of the Green Belt in order to protect the character of the village.
3.14: Chelford station cannot be considered a ‘well connected railway station’ as it does not meet the definition criteria relating to frequency of trains serving the station. Chelford must not, therefore, be included within any proposals for development around railway stations.
3.15: Chelford Parish Council supports the commitment to prioritising brownfield land for future development. A comprehensive review must be undertaken to identify and allocate brownfield sites for development prior to any allocations being made on Green Belt sites.
3.19: Supplementary planning documents relating to ecology and biodiversity net gain must set out clear requirements for delivery and processes to challenge poor delivery or non-delivery.
3.20: Supplementary planning documents relating to developer contributions must seek to deliver infrastructure improvements prior to delivery of housing. Existing residents of communities, such as Chelford, must not suffer a deterioration in access to services (basic utilities, schools, medical services) as a consequence of poorly planned infrastructure delivery and/or inappropriate development.
4.6: Careful consideration must be given to the specific details of transport links when determining development locations. Public transport links in Chelford are limited in frequency and direction, therefore, generalisations relating to presence of bus stops or railway stations give rise to misleading information and inappropriate development.
4.13: Heritage assets, areas with landscape and wildlife value should be protected from development.
4.15: Green Belt land should be protected from development with brownfield sites being prioritised.
4.16: Agricultural land should be protected from development. Cheshire East Council should promote food security and sustainability by protecting areas which have good quality agricultural land which can be used for food production.
4.19: Rural villages should be protected from inappropriate, large scale development which causes irrevocable damage to the communities and local infrastructure.
5.15: Chelford Parish Council strongly objects to green field sites within the Green Belt in Chelford being allocated as grey belt land. The erosion of Green Belt within the Parish, through the previous allocation of safeguarded land, has already had a significant impact upon the Parish, including local services and amenities.
5.16: Chelford Parish Council strongly objects to green field sites within the Green Belt in Chelford being used for development. Chelford railway station is not a ‘well connected station’, therefore, does not meet the criteria for development under this policy. Land within Chelford is also not considered to be grey belt land, therefore, should also not be released for development on this basis.
5.17: Chelford Parish Council supports the proposal to maximise the use of brownfield sites and to consider sites outside of the Green Belt first. Development should only take place to need a genuine housing need and not to meet speculative aspirations of landowners or arbitrary housing targets.
5.18: The outcome of the Green Belt assessment should be published as soon as completed to enable communities to understand proposals within the context of the review.
5.19: Consideration should be given to extending the use of strategic green gaps to ensure that communities, of all sizes, are not subject to inappropriate development which harms settlement identity and character. Villages should be protected from inappropriate development which causes gaps between individual communities to be eroded.
5.23: Any review of settlement hierarchy should ensure conclusions are made on up to date, accurate information. Inaccurate information will lead to inappropriate development which detrimentally affects existing residents.
5.27: Chelford Parish Council supports the development of decision making policies relating to development in settlements. These should ensure that existing residents are protected from harm arising from the type, scale or location of development.
5.31: Housing Needs Assessments for local service centres must be carried out on an individual basis so that communities are not subject to inappropriate development arising from housing needs in other areas. During the development of the last Local Plan Chelford was subject to excessive, unjustified allocations which were not associated with local need.
5.35: Green Belt land should not be released for development to meet housing targets or to provide affordable housing unless there is compelling evidence of local need within the relevant community.
5.49: Brownfield sites should be prioritised for the delivery of small and medium sized sites. Use of Green Belt land to meet these arbitrary targets cannot be supported.
5.63: Chelford Parish Council supports the review and retention of the listed housing related policies as these are important to ensure new and future residents are not detrimentally affected by inappropriate development.
5.91: Policies should ensure that sustainable transport and infrastructure are central to proposed development sites. The cumulative impact of development has been poorly addressed in the past and the negative consequences impact both existing and future residents.
5.92: Policies should ensure that infrastructure relating to utilities, telecommunications, green infrastructure, health facilities and communities services are adequately planned and delivered prior to residential developments being completed.
5.99: Natural assets must be afforded protection against development. Loss of trees, hedgerows, woodland and wildlife habitats must be avoided in all but exceptional circumstances. Developments must include features to conserve and enhance the natural environment within and in the immediate vicinity of the development site.
5.108: The Local Plan must not detrimentally affect health and wellbeing services and facilities of existing communities. Health and wellbeing services and facilities must be enhanced to cater for any increases in population within the relevant catchment area.
5.109: Chelford Parish Council supports policies which seek to reduce pollution and contamination.
5.110: Chelford Parish Council supports policies which seek to improve public safety.
5.111: Chelford Parish Council supports policies which seek to improve access to outdoor recreation and green spaces.
5.112: Chelford Parish Council supports policies which seek to encourage active travel, however, consider that proposals should seek to provide well planned options which do not create direct conflict with motorised traffic.
5.121: Chelford Parish Council supports policies which seek to protect communities facilities. It is considered that the evidence requirements to demonstrate when a community facility is no longer needed or viable should be robust to ensure all options have been adequately explored before any loss is permitted.
5.127: Chelford Parish Council supports policies which seek to protect heritage assets within the borough.