Local plan scoping consultation

Please find below Alderley Edge Parish Council’s comments to the Local Plan scoping consultation. A copy is also attached.

General Comments
At this juncture of consultation, Alderley Edge Parish Council has the following comments to make in the local plan formation:

1. Local Service Centre – in the current Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy, the village of Alderley Edge is designated as a Local Service Centre. It is vital that this designation is retained in any new iteration of the CELPS. Alderley Edge, as a Local Service Centre, lacks the essential infrastructure required to cope with significant levels of additional housing; for example, inadequate parking provision, inadequate public open space provision, inadequate primary school provision and a gridlocked local highway network, including zero provision of safe cycling options. In addition, there is a complete absence of many of the facilities that would normally be expected to qualify for a Key Service Centre, such as: no secondary school provision, no leisure centre provision, no household waste recycling centre, no classified “a roads” through the village.

2. Brownfield First – Alderley Edge currently has a number of potential sites not included in consideration; eg Holmfield, former sheltered housing, newly closed Alderley Edge School for Girls, Higham’s garage site, it should be noted that as a Local Service centre we have also seen significant and ongoing development at Alderley Park. This puts extra stresses and demands on infrastructure and local services that should be considered in the round, of the Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley locale.

3. Green belt – Alderley Edge is surrounded by green belt, which in addition to the Alderley Edge Conservation Area (a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest) helps the village to retain its local landscape character. Most of the green belt surrounding Alderley Edge makes a major or significant contribution to the protection and preservation of this local landscape character and it is essential that this is retained.

4. Protect “Strategic” Green Gaps / Belt between settlements – The area between Whitehall bridge roundabout on A34 and south along Wilmslow Road in Alderley Edge provides a neighbourhood green gap enforcing separation and stops spread between Alderley Edge and Wilmslow

5. Infrastructure before growth – CE provisioned primary schools are already oversubscribed. There is no local secondary school provision. As stated in point 1, as an already stretched Local Service Centre any significant allocations must be accompanied by upfront investment into highways, schools, doctors and leisure facilities. A number of potential sites are inadequately serviced by access with singular entry/egress onto minor local roads eg Land at Ryleys Farm (Sutton Road), Land West of Congleton Road, Harden Park and Land North of Beech Road

6. Protect Nature and Landscape – There must be extenuating circumstances to release green belt and allow sprawl around Alderley Edge. Relaxation of protections would affect biodiversity and an area of rich landscape and character. Public green space is inadequate though access to nature is afforded on the area of The Edge and West and South through to Alderley Park. Brownfield site development should be prioritised before green belt.

7. Spatial Distribution – Infrastructure Capacity Must Inform Growth - The Parish Council supports an evidence-led spatial strategy. Cheshire East identifies infrastructure capacity and constraints as factors that may influence the distribution of development. We consider that these should be fundamental considerations rather than matters addressed after a distribution strategy has been determined. For Alderley Edge, the evidence base should specifically assess: highway capacity, safety and congestion, primary and secondary education capacity, healthcare provision, public transport capacity, parking, safe walking and cycling infrastructure, utilities and drainage, public open space and recreation provision and community facilities.
Alderley Edge already experiences significant highway congestion and infrastructure pressure.
Accordingly, the Parish Council strongly supports the principle of infrastructure before growth.
Where additional development is contemplated, the Local Plan must be capable of demonstrating that the necessary infrastructure can realistically be delivered, funded and provided at the appropriate time.
The proposed Infrastructure Issues and Context Report, Infrastructure Delivery Plan and highways network modelling should therefore inform the spatial distribution of development and not simply provide mitigation for growth decisions already made.

Alderley Edge Parish Council and community looks forward to further engagement to allow transparent and evidence-based decisions to be made.

Please find below Alderley Edge Parish Council’s comments to the Local Plan scoping consultation. A copy is also attached.

General Comments
At this juncture of consultation, Alderley Edge Parish Council has the following comments to make in the local plan formation:

1. Local Service Centre – in the current Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy, the village of Alderley Edge is designated as a Local Service Centre. It is vital that this designation is retained in any new iteration of the CELPS. Alderley Edge, as a Local Service Centre, lacks the essential infrastructure required to cope with significant levels of additional housing; for example, inadequate parking provision, inadequate public open space provision, inadequate primary school provision and a gridlocked local highway network, including zero provision of safe cycling options. In addition, there is a complete absence of many of the facilities that would normally be expected to qualify for a Key Service Centre, such as: no secondary school provision, no leisure centre provision, no household waste recycling centre, no classified “a roads” through the village.

2. Brownfield First – Alderley Edge currently has a number of potential sites not included in consideration; eg Holmfield, former sheltered housing, newly closed Alderley Edge School for Girls, Higham’s garage site, it should be noted that as a Local Service centre we have also seen significant and ongoing development at Alderley Park. This puts extra stresses and demands on infrastructure and local services that should be considered in the round, of the Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley locale.

3. Green belt – Alderley Edge is surrounded by green belt, which in addition to the Alderley Edge Conservation Area (a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest) helps the village to retain its local landscape character. Most of the green belt surrounding Alderley Edge makes a major or significant contribution to the protection and preservation of this local landscape character and it is essential that this is retained.

4. Protect “Strategic” Green Gaps / Belt between settlements – The area between Whitehall bridge roundabout on A34 and south along Wilmslow Road in Alderley Edge provides a neighbourhood green gap enforcing separation and stops spread between Alderley Edge and Wilmslow

5. Infrastructure before growth – CE provisioned primary schools are already oversubscribed. There is no local secondary school provision. As stated in point 1, as an already stretched Local Service Centre any significant allocations must be accompanied by upfront investment into highways, schools, doctors and leisure facilities. A number of potential sites are inadequately serviced by access with singular entry/egress onto minor local roads eg Land at Ryleys Farm (Sutton Road), Land West of Congleton Road, Harden Park and Land North of Beech Road

6. Protect Nature and Landscape – There must be extenuating circumstances to release green belt and allow sprawl around Alderley Edge. Relaxation of protections would affect biodiversity and an area of rich landscape and character. Public green space is inadequate though access to nature is afforded on the area of The Edge and West and South through to Alderley Park. Brownfield site development should be prioritised before green belt.

7. Spatial Distribution – Infrastructure Capacity Must Inform Growth - The Parish Council supports an evidence-led spatial strategy. Cheshire East identifies infrastructure capacity and constraints as factors that may influence the distribution of development. We consider that these should be fundamental considerations rather than matters addressed after a distribution strategy has been determined. For Alderley Edge, the evidence base should specifically assess: highway capacity, safety and congestion, primary and secondary education capacity, healthcare provision, public transport capacity, parking, safe walking and cycling infrastructure, utilities and drainage, public open space and recreation provision and community facilities.
Alderley Edge already experiences significant highway congestion and infrastructure pressure.
Accordingly, the Parish Council strongly supports the principle of infrastructure before growth.
Where additional development is contemplated, the Local Plan must be capable of demonstrating that the necessary infrastructure can realistically be delivered, funded and provided at the appropriate time.
The proposed Infrastructure Issues and Context Report, Infrastructure Delivery Plan and highways network modelling should therefore inform the spatial distribution of development and not simply provide mitigation for growth decisions already made.

Alderley Edge Parish Council and community looks forward to further engagement to allow transparent and evidence-based decisions to be made.

Please find below Alderley Edge Parish Council’s comments to the Local Plan scoping consultation. A copy is also attached.

General Comments
At this juncture of consultation, Alderley Edge Parish Council has the following comments to make in the local plan formation:

1. Local Service Centre – in the current Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy, the village of Alderley Edge is designated as a Local Service Centre. It is vital that this designation is retained in any new iteration of the CELPS. Alderley Edge, as a Local Service Centre, lacks the essential infrastructure required to cope with significant levels of additional housing; for example, inadequate parking provision, inadequate public open space provision, inadequate primary school provision and a gridlocked local highway network, including zero provision of safe cycling options. In addition, there is a complete absence of many of the facilities that would normally be expected to qualify for a Key Service Centre, such as: no secondary school provision, no leisure centre provision, no household waste recycling centre, no classified “a roads” through the village.

2. Brownfield First – Alderley Edge currently has a number of potential sites not included in consideration; eg Holmfield, former sheltered housing, newly closed Alderley Edge School for Girls, Higham’s garage site, it should be noted that as a Local Service centre we have also seen significant and ongoing development at Alderley Park. This puts extra stresses and demands on infrastructure and local services that should be considered in the round, of the Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley locale.

3. Green belt – Alderley Edge is surrounded by green belt, which in addition to the Alderley Edge Conservation Area (a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest) helps the village to retain its local landscape character. Most of the green belt surrounding Alderley Edge makes a major or significant contribution to the protection and preservation of this local landscape character and it is essential that this is retained.

4. Protect “Strategic” Green Gaps / Belt between settlements – The area between Whitehall bridge roundabout on A34 and south along Wilmslow Road in Alderley Edge provides a neighbourhood green gap enforcing separation and stops spread between Alderley Edge and Wilmslow

5. Infrastructure before growth – CE provisioned primary schools are already oversubscribed. There is no local secondary school provision. As stated in point 1, as an already stretched Local Service Centre any significant allocations must be accompanied by upfront investment into highways, schools, doctors and leisure facilities. A number of potential sites are inadequately serviced by access with singular entry/egress onto minor local roads eg Land at Ryleys Farm (Sutton Road), Land West of Congleton Road, Harden Park and Land North of Beech Road

6. Protect Nature and Landscape – There must be extenuating circumstances to release green belt and allow sprawl around Alderley Edge. Relaxation of protections would affect biodiversity and an area of rich landscape and character. Public green space is inadequate though access to nature is afforded on the area of The Edge and West and South through to Alderley Park. Brownfield site development should be prioritised before green belt.

7. Spatial Distribution – Infrastructure Capacity Must Inform Growth - The Parish Council supports an evidence-led spatial strategy. Cheshire East identifies infrastructure capacity and constraints as factors that may influence the distribution of development. We consider that these should be fundamental considerations rather than matters addressed after a distribution strategy has been determined. For Alderley Edge, the evidence base should specifically assess: highway capacity, safety and congestion, primary and secondary education capacity, healthcare provision, public transport capacity, parking, safe walking and cycling infrastructure, utilities and drainage, public open space and recreation provision and community facilities.
Alderley Edge already experiences significant highway congestion and infrastructure pressure.
Accordingly, the Parish Council strongly supports the principle of infrastructure before growth.
Where additional development is contemplated, the Local Plan must be capable of demonstrating that the necessary infrastructure can realistically be delivered, funded and provided at the appropriate time.
The proposed Infrastructure Issues and Context Report, Infrastructure Delivery Plan and highways network modelling should therefore inform the spatial distribution of development and not simply provide mitigation for growth decisions already made.

Alderley Edge Parish Council and community looks forward to further engagement to allow transparent and evidence-based decisions to be made.

Please find below Alderley Edge Parish Council’s comments to the Local Plan scoping consultation. A copy is also attached.

General Comments
At this juncture of consultation, Alderley Edge Parish Council has the following comments to make in the local plan formation:

1. Local Service Centre – in the current Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy, the village of Alderley Edge is designated as a Local Service Centre. It is vital that this designation is retained in any new iteration of the CELPS. Alderley Edge, as a Local Service Centre, lacks the essential infrastructure required to cope with significant levels of additional housing; for example, inadequate parking provision, inadequate public open space provision, inadequate primary school provision and a gridlocked local highway network, including zero provision of safe cycling options. In addition, there is a complete absence of many of the facilities that would normally be expected to qualify for a Key Service Centre, such as: no secondary school provision, no leisure centre provision, no household waste recycling centre, no classified “a roads” through the village.

2. Brownfield First – Alderley Edge currently has a number of potential sites not included in consideration; eg Holmfield, former sheltered housing, newly closed Alderley Edge School for Girls, Higham’s garage site, it should be noted that as a Local Service centre we have also seen significant and ongoing development at Alderley Park. This puts extra stresses and demands on infrastructure and local services that should be considered in the round, of the Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley locale.

3. Green belt – Alderley Edge is surrounded by green belt, which in addition to the Alderley Edge Conservation Area (a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest) helps the village to retain its local landscape character. Most of the green belt surrounding Alderley Edge makes a major or significant contribution to the protection and preservation of this local landscape character and it is essential that this is retained.

4. Protect “Strategic” Green Gaps / Belt between settlements – The area between Whitehall bridge roundabout on A34 and south along Wilmslow Road in Alderley Edge provides a neighbourhood green gap enforcing separation and stops spread between Alderley Edge and Wilmslow

5. Infrastructure before growth – CE provisioned primary schools are already oversubscribed. There is no local secondary school provision. As stated in point 1, as an already stretched Local Service Centre any significant allocations must be accompanied by upfront investment into highways, schools, doctors and leisure facilities. A number of potential sites are inadequately serviced by access with singular entry/egress onto minor local roads eg Land at Ryleys Farm (Sutton Road), Land West of Congleton Road, Harden Park and Land North of Beech Road

6. Protect Nature and Landscape – There must be extenuating circumstances to release green belt and allow sprawl around Alderley Edge. Relaxation of protections would affect biodiversity and an area of rich landscape and character. Public green space is inadequate though access to nature is afforded on the area of The Edge and West and South through to Alderley Park. Brownfield site development should be prioritised before green belt.

7. Spatial Distribution – Infrastructure Capacity Must Inform Growth - The Parish Council supports an evidence-led spatial strategy. Cheshire East identifies infrastructure capacity and constraints as factors that may influence the distribution of development. We consider that these should be fundamental considerations rather than matters addressed after a distribution strategy has been determined. For Alderley Edge, the evidence base should specifically assess: highway capacity, safety and congestion, primary and secondary education capacity, healthcare provision, public transport capacity, parking, safe walking and cycling infrastructure, utilities and drainage, public open space and recreation provision and community facilities.
Alderley Edge already experiences significant highway congestion and infrastructure pressure.
Accordingly, the Parish Council strongly supports the principle of infrastructure before growth.
Where additional development is contemplated, the Local Plan must be capable of demonstrating that the necessary infrastructure can realistically be delivered, funded and provided at the appropriate time.
The proposed Infrastructure Issues and Context Report, Infrastructure Delivery Plan and highways network modelling should therefore inform the spatial distribution of development and not simply provide mitigation for growth decisions already made.

Alderley Edge Parish Council and community looks forward to further engagement to allow transparent and evidence-based decisions to be made.

Please find below Alderley Edge Parish Council’s comments to the Local Plan scoping consultation. A copy is also attached.

General Comments
At this juncture of consultation, Alderley Edge Parish Council has the following comments to make in the local plan formation:

1. Local Service Centre – in the current Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy, the village of Alderley Edge is designated as a Local Service Centre. It is vital that this designation is retained in any new iteration of the CELPS. Alderley Edge, as a Local Service Centre, lacks the essential infrastructure required to cope with significant levels of additional housing; for example, inadequate parking provision, inadequate public open space provision, inadequate primary school provision and a gridlocked local highway network, including zero provision of safe cycling options. In addition, there is a complete absence of many of the facilities that would normally be expected to qualify for a Key Service Centre, such as: no secondary school provision, no leisure centre provision, no household waste recycling centre, no classified “a roads” through the village.

2. Brownfield First – Alderley Edge currently has a number of potential sites not included in consideration; eg Holmfield, former sheltered housing, newly closed Alderley Edge School for Girls, Higham’s garage site, it should be noted that as a Local Service centre we have also seen significant and ongoing development at Alderley Park. This puts extra stresses and demands on infrastructure and local services that should be considered in the round, of the Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley locale.

3. Green belt – Alderley Edge is surrounded by green belt, which in addition to the Alderley Edge Conservation Area (a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest) helps the village to retain its local landscape character. Most of the green belt surrounding Alderley Edge makes a major or significant contribution to the protection and preservation of this local landscape character and it is essential that this is retained.

4. Protect “Strategic” Green Gaps / Belt between settlements – The area between Whitehall bridge roundabout on A34 and south along Wilmslow Road in Alderley Edge provides a neighbourhood green gap enforcing separation and stops spread between Alderley Edge and Wilmslow

5. Infrastructure before growth – CE provisioned primary schools are already oversubscribed. There is no local secondary school provision. As stated in point 1, as an already stretched Local Service Centre any significant allocations must be accompanied by upfront investment into highways, schools, doctors and leisure facilities. A number of potential sites are inadequately serviced by access with singular entry/egress onto minor local roads eg Land at Ryleys Farm (Sutton Road), Land West of Congleton Road, Harden Park and Land North of Beech Road

6. Protect Nature and Landscape – There must be extenuating circumstances to release green belt and allow sprawl around Alderley Edge. Relaxation of protections would affect biodiversity and an area of rich landscape and character. Public green space is inadequate though access to nature is afforded on the area of The Edge and West and South through to Alderley Park. Brownfield site development should be prioritised before green belt.

7. Spatial Distribution – Infrastructure Capacity Must Inform Growth - The Parish Council supports an evidence-led spatial strategy. Cheshire East identifies infrastructure capacity and constraints as factors that may influence the distribution of development. We consider that these should be fundamental considerations rather than matters addressed after a distribution strategy has been determined. For Alderley Edge, the evidence base should specifically assess: highway capacity, safety and congestion, primary and secondary education capacity, healthcare provision, public transport capacity, parking, safe walking and cycling infrastructure, utilities and drainage, public open space and recreation provision and community facilities.
Alderley Edge already experiences significant highway congestion and infrastructure pressure.
Accordingly, the Parish Council strongly supports the principle of infrastructure before growth.
Where additional development is contemplated, the Local Plan must be capable of demonstrating that the necessary infrastructure can realistically be delivered, funded and provided at the appropriate time.
The proposed Infrastructure Issues and Context Report, Infrastructure Delivery Plan and highways network modelling should therefore inform the spatial distribution of development and not simply provide mitigation for growth decisions already made.

Alderley Edge Parish Council and community looks forward to further engagement to allow transparent and evidence-based decisions to be made.

Please find below Alderley Edge Parish Council’s comments to the Local Plan scoping consultation. A copy is also attached.

General Comments
At this juncture of consultation, Alderley Edge Parish Council has the following comments to make in the local plan formation:

1. Local Service Centre – in the current Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy, the village of Alderley Edge is designated as a Local Service Centre. It is vital that this designation is retained in any new iteration of the CELPS. Alderley Edge, as a Local Service Centre, lacks the essential infrastructure required to cope with significant levels of additional housing; for example, inadequate parking provision, inadequate public open space provision, inadequate primary school provision and a gridlocked local highway network, including zero provision of safe cycling options. In addition, there is a complete absence of many of the facilities that would normally be expected to qualify for a Key Service Centre, such as: no secondary school provision, no leisure centre provision, no household waste recycling centre, no classified “a roads” through the village.

2. Brownfield First – Alderley Edge currently has a number of potential sites not included in consideration; eg Holmfield, former sheltered housing, newly closed Alderley Edge School for Girls, Higham’s garage site, it should be noted that as a Local Service centre we have also seen significant and ongoing development at Alderley Park. This puts extra stresses and demands on infrastructure and local services that should be considered in the round, of the Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley locale.

3. Green belt – Alderley Edge is surrounded by green belt, which in addition to the Alderley Edge Conservation Area (a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest) helps the village to retain its local landscape character. Most of the green belt surrounding Alderley Edge makes a major or significant contribution to the protection and preservation of this local landscape character and it is essential that this is retained.

4. Protect “Strategic” Green Gaps / Belt between settlements – The area between Whitehall bridge roundabout on A34 and south along Wilmslow Road in Alderley Edge provides a neighbourhood green gap enforcing separation and stops spread between Alderley Edge and Wilmslow

5. Infrastructure before growth – CE provisioned primary schools are already oversubscribed. There is no local secondary school provision. As stated in point 1, as an already stretched Local Service Centre any significant allocations must be accompanied by upfront investment into highways, schools, doctors and leisure facilities. A number of potential sites are inadequately serviced by access with singular entry/egress onto minor local roads eg Land at Ryleys Farm (Sutton Road), Land West of Congleton Road, Harden Park and Land North of Beech Road

6. Protect Nature and Landscape – There must be extenuating circumstances to release green belt and allow sprawl around Alderley Edge. Relaxation of protections would affect biodiversity and an area of rich landscape and character. Public green space is inadequate though access to nature is afforded on the area of The Edge and West and South through to Alderley Park. Brownfield site development should be prioritised before green belt.

7. Spatial Distribution – Infrastructure Capacity Must Inform Growth - The Parish Council supports an evidence-led spatial strategy. Cheshire East identifies infrastructure capacity and constraints as factors that may influence the distribution of development. We consider that these should be fundamental considerations rather than matters addressed after a distribution strategy has been determined. For Alderley Edge, the evidence base should specifically assess: highway capacity, safety and congestion, primary and secondary education capacity, healthcare provision, public transport capacity, parking, safe walking and cycling infrastructure, utilities and drainage, public open space and recreation provision and community facilities.
Alderley Edge already experiences significant highway congestion and infrastructure pressure.
Accordingly, the Parish Council strongly supports the principle of infrastructure before growth.
Where additional development is contemplated, the Local Plan must be capable of demonstrating that the necessary infrastructure can realistically be delivered, funded and provided at the appropriate time.
The proposed Infrastructure Issues and Context Report, Infrastructure Delivery Plan and highways network modelling should therefore inform the spatial distribution of development and not simply provide mitigation for growth decisions already made.

Alderley Edge Parish Council and community looks forward to further engagement to allow transparent and evidence-based decisions to be made.

Please find below Alderley Edge Parish Council’s comments to the Local Plan scoping consultation. A copy is also attached.

General Comments
At this juncture of consultation, Alderley Edge Parish Council has the following comments to make in the local plan formation:

1. Local Service Centre – in the current Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy, the village of Alderley Edge is designated as a Local Service Centre. It is vital that this designation is retained in any new iteration of the CELPS. Alderley Edge, as a Local Service Centre, lacks the essential infrastructure required to cope with significant levels of additional housing; for example, inadequate parking provision, inadequate public open space provision, inadequate primary school provision and a gridlocked local highway network, including zero provision of safe cycling options. In addition, there is a complete absence of many of the facilities that would normally be expected to qualify for a Key Service Centre, such as: no secondary school provision, no leisure centre provision, no household waste recycling centre, no classified “a roads” through the village.

2. Brownfield First – Alderley Edge currently has a number of potential sites not included in consideration; eg Holmfield, former sheltered housing, newly closed Alderley Edge School for Girls, Higham’s garage site, it should be noted that as a Local Service centre we have also seen significant and ongoing development at Alderley Park. This puts extra stresses and demands on infrastructure and local services that should be considered in the round, of the Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley locale.

3. Green belt – Alderley Edge is surrounded by green belt, which in addition to the Alderley Edge Conservation Area (a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest) helps the village to retain its local landscape character. Most of the green belt surrounding Alderley Edge makes a major or significant contribution to the protection and preservation of this local landscape character and it is essential that this is retained.

4. Protect “Strategic” Green Gaps / Belt between settlements – The area between Whitehall bridge roundabout on A34 and south along Wilmslow Road in Alderley Edge provides a neighbourhood green gap enforcing separation and stops spread between Alderley Edge and Wilmslow

5. Infrastructure before growth – CE provisioned primary schools are already oversubscribed. There is no local secondary school provision. As stated in point 1, as an already stretched Local Service Centre any significant allocations must be accompanied by upfront investment into highways, schools, doctors and leisure facilities. A number of potential sites are inadequately serviced by access with singular entry/egress onto minor local roads eg Land at Ryleys Farm (Sutton Road), Land West of Congleton Road, Harden Park and Land North of Beech Road

6. Protect Nature and Landscape – There must be extenuating circumstances to release green belt and allow sprawl around Alderley Edge. Relaxation of protections would affect biodiversity and an area of rich landscape and character. Public green space is inadequate though access to nature is afforded on the area of The Edge and West and South through to Alderley Park. Brownfield site development should be prioritised before green belt.

7. Spatial Distribution – Infrastructure Capacity Must Inform Growth - The Parish Council supports an evidence-led spatial strategy. Cheshire East identifies infrastructure capacity and constraints as factors that may influence the distribution of development. We consider that these should be fundamental considerations rather than matters addressed after a distribution strategy has been determined. For Alderley Edge, the evidence base should specifically assess: highway capacity, safety and congestion, primary and secondary education capacity, healthcare provision, public transport capacity, parking, safe walking and cycling infrastructure, utilities and drainage, public open space and recreation provision and community facilities.
Alderley Edge already experiences significant highway congestion and infrastructure pressure.
Accordingly, the Parish Council strongly supports the principle of infrastructure before growth.
Where additional development is contemplated, the Local Plan must be capable of demonstrating that the necessary infrastructure can realistically be delivered, funded and provided at the appropriate time.
The proposed Infrastructure Issues and Context Report, Infrastructure Delivery Plan and highways network modelling should therefore inform the spatial distribution of development and not simply provide mitigation for growth decisions already made.

Alderley Edge Parish Council and community looks forward to further engagement to allow transparent and evidence-based decisions to be made.

Please find below Alderley Edge Parish Council’s comments to the Local Plan scoping consultation. A copy is also attached.

General Comments
At this juncture of consultation, Alderley Edge Parish Council has the following comments to make in the local plan formation:

1. Local Service Centre – in the current Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy, the village of Alderley Edge is designated as a Local Service Centre. It is vital that this designation is retained in any new iteration of the CELPS. Alderley Edge, as a Local Service Centre, lacks the essential infrastructure required to cope with significant levels of additional housing; for example, inadequate parking provision, inadequate public open space provision, inadequate primary school provision and a gridlocked local highway network, including zero provision of safe cycling options. In addition, there is a complete absence of many of the facilities that would normally be expected to qualify for a Key Service Centre, such as: no secondary school provision, no leisure centre provision, no household waste recycling centre, no classified “a roads” through the village.

2. Brownfield First – Alderley Edge currently has a number of potential sites not included in consideration; eg Holmfield, former sheltered housing, newly closed Alderley Edge School for Girls, Higham’s garage site, it should be noted that as a Local Service centre we have also seen significant and ongoing development at Alderley Park. This puts extra stresses and demands on infrastructure and local services that should be considered in the round, of the Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley locale.

3. Green belt – Alderley Edge is surrounded by green belt, which in addition to the Alderley Edge Conservation Area (a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest) helps the village to retain its local landscape character. Most of the green belt surrounding Alderley Edge makes a major or significant contribution to the protection and preservation of this local landscape character and it is essential that this is retained.

4. Protect “Strategic” Green Gaps / Belt between settlements – The area between Whitehall bridge roundabout on A34 and south along Wilmslow Road in Alderley Edge provides a neighbourhood green gap enforcing separation and stops spread between Alderley Edge and Wilmslow

5. Infrastructure before growth – CE provisioned primary schools are already oversubscribed. There is no local secondary school provision. As stated in point 1, as an already stretched Local Service Centre any significant allocations must be accompanied by upfront investment into highways, schools, doctors and leisure facilities. A number of potential sites are inadequately serviced by access with singular entry/egress onto minor local roads eg Land at Ryleys Farm (Sutton Road), Land West of Congleton Road, Harden Park and Land North of Beech Road

6. Protect Nature and Landscape – There must be extenuating circumstances to release green belt and allow sprawl around Alderley Edge. Relaxation of protections would affect biodiversity and an area of rich landscape and character. Public green space is inadequate though access to nature is afforded on the area of The Edge and West and South through to Alderley Park. Brownfield site development should be prioritised before green belt.

7. Spatial Distribution – Infrastructure Capacity Must Inform Growth - The Parish Council supports an evidence-led spatial strategy. Cheshire East identifies infrastructure capacity and constraints as factors that may influence the distribution of development. We consider that these should be fundamental considerations rather than matters addressed after a distribution strategy has been determined. For Alderley Edge, the evidence base should specifically assess: highway capacity, safety and congestion, primary and secondary education capacity, healthcare provision, public transport capacity, parking, safe walking and cycling infrastructure, utilities and drainage, public open space and recreation provision and community facilities.
Alderley Edge already experiences significant highway congestion and infrastructure pressure.
Accordingly, the Parish Council strongly supports the principle of infrastructure before growth.
Where additional development is contemplated, the Local Plan must be capable of demonstrating that the necessary infrastructure can realistically be delivered, funded and provided at the appropriate time.
The proposed Infrastructure Issues and Context Report, Infrastructure Delivery Plan and highways network modelling should therefore inform the spatial distribution of development and not simply provide mitigation for growth decisions already made.

Alderley Edge Parish Council and community looks forward to further engagement to allow transparent and evidence-based decisions to be made.