Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 5985

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Richborough Estates

Agent: Asteer Planning

Richborough welcomes the preparation of a new Local Plan and considers this an opportunity to plan strategically for Cheshire East’s housing, employment, economic and social growth over the next 15 to 20 years. While recognising that the Scoping Consultation is not site-specific, they request that sites previously promoted through the 2024 and 2026 Call for Sites exercises are fully considered when developing the spatial strategy and approach to land allocations. Richborough also seeks continued engagement with the Council as the Local Plan progresses and offers to discuss their representations and previously submitted site information.

Comment

Representation ID: 5988

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Richborough Estates

Agent: Asteer Planning

Richborough considers that the Local Plan period should be extended from 2045 to 2050. While recognising that a 15-year period meets minimum national policy requirements, they argue that a longer timeframe would provide greater resilience against delays in plan preparation, examination or adoption and better accommodate strategic development and infrastructure with lengthy lead-in times. They consider that extending the Plan would help maintain a sufficient and resilient supply of housing and employment land, reduce the risk of future land supply shortfalls and provide greater long-term certainty for communities, landowners, developers and infrastructure providers.

Comment

Representation ID: 5991

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Richborough Estates

Agent: Asteer Planning

Richborough considers that the Local Plan vision should provide an ambitious, positive and delivery-focused framework for meeting Cheshire East’s development needs sustainably. They argue that the vision should recognise the Borough’s need for new housing and address the type, tenure and quality of homes required. The Plan’s objectives should explain how housing needs will be delivered, identify broad locations for different forms of development and establish an appropriate spatial strategy and settlement hierarchy. Richborough considers that the vision and objectives should respond proactively to anticipated growth and maximise the opportunities arising from development across Cheshire East.

Comment

Representation ID: 5993

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Richborough Estates

Agent: Asteer Planning

Richborough supports a comprehensive, transparent and flexible site assessment process considering suitability, availability, deliverability and sustainability. They advocate focusing growth around Principal Towns and Key Service Centres and assessing Green Belt and Grey Belt status, relationships with settlements, accessibility, infrastructure, ownership and delivery timescales. They argue that larger sites can make an important contribution to housing needs and provide affordable housing, open space, green infrastructure and community and transport improvements. Richborough also calls for a continuous supply of development land, with sites assessed for their potential to meet short-, medium- and longer-term growth requirements.

Comment

Representation ID: 5996

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Richborough Estates

Agent: Asteer Planning

Richborough supports a comprehensive review of the Green Belt in accordance with national planning policy. They consider that insufficient brownfield land is likely to be available to meet Cheshire East’s housing needs and therefore regard the Green Belt Review as a crucial part of the evidence base. They call for a comprehensive assessment that identifies potential Grey Belt land and informs the wider site-selection process. Richborough argues that potential Green Belt release should be considered alongside housing and employment needs, the spatial strategy, site sustainability and deliverability, settlement relationships, access to services and facilities, transport connections and opportunities for sustainable development.

Comment

Representation ID: 5998

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Richborough Estates

Agent: Asteer Planning

Richborough considers that the assessment of Strategic Green Gap should focus on the actual function and contribution of individual sites to maintaining settlement separation and identity. Land that makes little or no meaningful contribution to these purposes should not be treated as presenting the same level of constraint as land that is critical to preventing settlements from coalescing.

Comment

Representation ID: 6004

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Richborough Estates

Agent: Asteer Planning

Richborough supports an evidence-led review of the settlement hierarchy that considers the capacity and future potential of settlements to accommodate sustainable growth. They argue that Principal Towns and Key Service Centres should be assessed for larger-scale development and supporting infrastructure, with potential elevation of settlements capable of accommodating significant growth. The review should also consider functional relationships between settlements, including commuting patterns, transport connections, travel-to-work areas and shared services. Richborough considers that the resulting hierarchy should recognise future growth potential and direct development towards settlements where it can be accommodated sustainably while supporting their long-term vitality and resilience.

Comment

Representation ID: 6007

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Richborough Estates

Agent: Asteer Planning

Richborough supports a balanced spatial strategy that directs the majority of growth towards Principal Towns and Key Service Centres, reflecting their size, role, infrastructure and sustainability. They argue that development should strengthen existing settlements by supporting services and enabling new or improved infrastructure. Larger strategic developments of 100 or more homes could deliver benefits including affordable housing, schools, community facilities, sustainable transport, green space and biodiversity improvements. Richborough considers that growth should be directed to locations providing sustainable access to jobs, services and facilities while making effective use of existing and planned infrastructure and supporting the long-term vitality of communities.

Comment

Representation ID: 6009

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Richborough Estates

Agent: Asteer Planning

Richborough considers overall housing need a principal issue for the Local Plan, highlighting increased housing requirements and the Council’s current housing land supply position. They argue that the Plan should identify a resilient and flexible portfolio of deliverable sites capable of maintaining a five-year housing land supply and reducing reliance on speculative development. Richborough supports an updated Housing Needs Assessment and a positive approach to meeting identified needs. They advocate a balanced portfolio of allocations, including strategic urban extensions and smaller sustainable sites, to provide certainty for communities and infrastructure providers and maintain resilient housing delivery throughout the Plan period.

Comment

Representation ID: 6012

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Richborough Estates

Agent: Asteer Planning

The respondent considers affordable housing a significant challenge alongside overall housing need. They highlight worsening housing affordability and an identified shortfall in affordable homes, arguing that restricted housing supply could further increase prices, limit opportunities for first-time buyers and affect the working-age population, local economy, services and employers. They emphasise that affordable housing delivery is closely linked to market-led development and therefore call for sufficient viable housing allocations. The respondent also recommends comprehensive viability testing of affordable housing requirements for proposed allocations to provide clarity at planning application stage, recognising that appropriate requirements may vary between sites.