Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 6525

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Hallam Land Management

Agent: NJL Consulting

The respondent considers the proposed Local Plan period to 2045 insufficient and recommends a 20-year period to 2050. They argue that major development and associated infrastructure require longer-term planning and that national policy allows longer plan periods where this supports strategic development or infrastructure. They consider a longer period particularly important for alignment with the emerging Spatial Development Strategy, which will cover at least 25 years. The respondent also advocates identifying strategic sites capable of phased delivery, significant infrastructure provision and masterplanning. They consider extending the Local Plan period would provide greater certainty, support long-term growth and infrastructure ambitions, and reduce the risk of missing strategic development opportunities.

Comment

Representation ID: 6526

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Hallam Land Management

Agent: NJL Consulting

The respondent supports progressing the Cheshire East Local Plan without delaying for the emerging Spatial Development Strategy but considers the two documents should be closely aligned. They advocate a longer-term Local Plan vision extending to 2050 to reflect the Spatial Development Strategy’s minimum 25-year timeframe. The respondent considers the Local Plan should identify long-term growth opportunities and strategic infrastructure priorities to ensure consistency with the wider sub-regional framework for investment. They argue that growth and development around existing Key Service Centres is likely to contribute significantly to the strategic ambitions of the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority and should therefore form an important element of the Local Plan.

Comment

Representation ID: 6527

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Hallam Land Management

Agent: NJL Consulting

The respondent considers the Local Plan vision should clearly explain how development will contribute towards Cheshire East’s net-zero objective while meeting housing and employment needs. They anticipate that growth to 2050 will require expansion of existing towns and key settlements alongside consideration of new growth locations. They particularly support large strategic sites in sustainable locations with access to services and public transport, or developments of sufficient scale to provide new facilities. The respondent considers strategic development can combine new homes with habitats, public open space and wider environmental and ecological enhancements, helping deliver net environmental gains and contribute towards the Council’s net-zero ambitions.

Comment

Representation ID: 6529

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Hallam Land Management

Agent: NJL Consulting

The respondent supports using the standard-method Local Housing Need figure of 2,530 dwellings per annum as the minimum starting point for determining the Local Plan housing requirement. They consider a higher requirement may be appropriate to accommodate neighbouring authorities’ needs, economic growth ambitions and infrastructure investment. They highlight opportunities associated with devolution, the emerging Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority and Northern Powerhouse Rail and argue these should inform long-term housing growth. The respondent also considers the housing requirement should be sufficiently ambitious to increase affordable housing delivery and address continuing affordability pressures across Cheshire East, with the final requirement informed by appropriate evidence.

Comment

Representation ID: 6530

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Hallam Land Management

Agent: NJL Consulting

The respondent considers housing affordability remains a significant challenge in Cheshire East despite previous affordable housing delivery, highlighting the continuing high ratio between household earnings and house prices. They argue that this demonstrates the existing Local Plan did not set a sufficiently ambitious affordable housing target. The respondent recommends that updated evidence and future affordable housing policies fully reflect ongoing affordability pressures and seek a significant increase in affordable housing delivery. They suggest that a higher overall housing requirement may be necessary to facilitate this increase, subject to appropriate viability testing. The respondent also supports preparation of an updated Housing Needs Assessment to inform future requirements.

Comment

Representation ID: 6534

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Hallam Land Management

Agent: NJL Consulting

The respondent supports reviewing the settlement hierarchy and considering a range of growth options, including edge-of-settlement development and strategic urban extensions. The respondent considers Key Service Centres should continue to accommodate significant housing growth, noting their contribution to previous delivery and ability to support existing facilities and services. Sustainable urban extensions in less constrained locations are supported. The respondent recommends updating settlement studies to assess capacity, constraints, infrastructure and community needs and considering the additional services promoted sites could deliver. Alsager is highlighted as particularly suitable for future sustainable growth due to connectivity with employment areas and the sub-regional centres of Crewe and Stoke-on-Trent.

Comment

Representation ID: 6557

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Hallam Land Management

Agent: NJL Consulting

The respondent recommends extending the Local Plan period to 2050 to provide a longer-term framework for strategic growth and infrastructure and align with the emerging Spatial Development Strategy. They particularly highlight Crewe, noting that the Council’s consultation identifies the need for significant growth at Crewe and that the settlement’s role should be fully reflected in longer-term planning. They argue that a 20-year timeframe would better support strategic development, including major sites requiring phased delivery, masterplanning and substantial infrastructure. The respondent considers this would provide greater certainty, support economic and housing growth, and ensure the Local Plan adequately plans for Crewe’s future development and infrastructure requirements.

Comment

Representation ID: 6560

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Hallam Land Management

Agent: NJL Consulting

The respondent considers the Local Plan should progress alongside, and align closely with, the emerging Cheshire and Warrington Spatial Development Strategy rather than being delayed by its preparation. They advocate a longer-term Local Plan to 2050 to better align with the Spatial Development Strategy’s minimum 25-year timeframe. The respondent considers the Plan should identify long-term growth opportunities and strategic infrastructure priorities to provide a coordinated framework for investment across the sub-region. They also highlight the importance of growth and development around Crewe to the Combined Authority’s wider strategic ambitions and consider this should form an appropriate part of the new Local Plan.

Comment

Representation ID: 6562

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Hallam Land Management

Agent: NJL Consulting

The respondent considers the Local Plan vision should clearly demonstrate how development will contribute to Cheshire East’s net-zero objective while meeting housing and employment needs. Growth to 2050 is expected to require expansion of existing towns and key settlements alongside consideration of new growth locations. The respondent supports large strategic sites in sustainable locations with access to services and public transport, or sufficient scale to provide new facilities, habitats, open space and environmental enhancements. Given the anticipated scale of change at Crewe, the respondent also recommends that achieving the ‘best small city’ status for Crewe should be embedded as a clear Local Plan objective.

Comment

Representation ID: 6563

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Hallam Land Management

Agent: NJL Consulting

The respondent supports using the standard-method Local Housing Need figure of 2,530 dwellings per annum as the minimum starting point for the Local Plan and considers a higher requirement may be justified by economic growth, infrastructure investment and affordable housing needs. The respondent highlights opportunities associated with devolution, the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority and Northern Powerhouse Rail. They also refer to significant growth ambitions for Crewe, including aspirations for substantial growth towards 2050, which could require additional housing. Overall, the respondent considers the housing requirement should be sufficiently ambitious to support economic opportunities, infrastructure investment and increased affordable housing delivery across the Borough.