Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 6099

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

The significant increase observed in Cheshire East’s housing need reinforces the requirement for a
positive and pro-growth Local Plan. The standard method figure of 2,530 dwellings per annum
represents a 41% increase against the current Local Plan requirement (1,800 dpa).
Policies HO1 and HO2 of the August 2026 NPPF outlines that Councils should use the standard
method figure as a starting point when deciding how many new homes to plan for in a local plan.
However, the final housing requirement figure identified in the new local plan should be higher to
reinforce the future housing trajectory if delays are experienced.
The Council’s recognition that it cannot currently demonstrate a robust five-year housing land
supply is also consistent with National Policy. The latest published monitoring position identifies only a 3.3 year supply of deliverable housing sites, demonstrating the urgency of identifying
additional land capable to housing delivery, and ensuring these can be delivered in short
timescales.
The sites submitted on behalf of Seddon Homes during the 2024 Call for Sites and 2026 Call for
Sites process can make an important contribution towards meeting the increased housing
requirement and restoring a robust housing land supply. Their allocation would accord with the
August 2026 NPPF by supporting a positive strategy which meets development needs and
providing a sufficient supply of housing land across a diverse portfolio of sites with a range of
locations, sizes and delivery timescales.

Comment

Representation ID: 6100

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

The August 2026 NPPF was published following the publishing of the Scoping Consultation, and a
number of Green Belt policy changes should be reflected in the Local Plan. Policies GB2 and GB3
require the Council to undertake a borough-wide assessment of Green Belt land, clearly identifying
grey belt land using the methodology outlined in Annex E, considering where boundaries should be
altered to meet development needs. The final definition of grey belt has been simplified, removing
the previous requirement to consider whether other national constraints provide a strong reason for
refusal.
Given the outlined increase to Cheshire East’s housing requirement and current land supply
shortfall, the assessment should positively identify sustainable opportunities for growth rather than
treat the existing Green Belt boundaries as fixed. Priority should be given to suitable grey belt
sites, however other Green Belt sites should remain capable of release whereby they are fully
evidenced by exceptional circumstances.

Comment

Representation ID: 6101

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

The Spatial Development Strategy for Cheshire East and Warrington should provide a high-level
framework for long-term growth, strategic infrastructure and the broad distribution of development
whilst detailed site selection and allocation remain a matter for the Cheshire East Local Plan.
The preparation of the SDS should not delay the Local Plan process, nor delay any decisions
needed to meet Cheshire East’s immediate housing requirement and current land supply shortfall.
Therefore, the Council should continue progressing its Local Plan evidence base and positively
assess the sites submitted through the Call for Sites process.
The emerging SDS should support, rather than restrict a pro-growth Local Plan which meets
housing needs in full and identifies a diverse portfolio of deliverable sites, including those
submitted by Seddon Homes.

Comment

Representation ID: 6102

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

The review of existing Supplementary Planning Documents is supported. Their replacement
provides the Council with an opportunity to create a clear and more streamlined policy framework
with specific local requirements.

Future Supplementary Planning Documents should add practical detail without duplicating policies
or introducing new requirements that are already addressed within the Local Plan. The Council
should also outline clear transitional arrangements to ensure that developers understand which
guidance remains applicable while the new Local Plan is being prepared.

Comment

Representation ID: 6103

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

The proposed plan period to March 2045 is supported. Policy PM2(1)(b) of the August 2026 NPPF
requires Local Plans to cover a period of at least 10 years from adoption. The proposed plan
period comfortably exceeds this minimum requirement and will provide a sufficient certainty for the
identification, allocation and delivery of strategic development opportunities.
Given that the adopted Cheshire East Local Plan was adopted in 2017, the new Plan should
ensure that the current housing land supply shortfall and unmet needs are addressed through a
positive strategy which identifies sufficient deliverable sites from the outset of the plan period.

Comment

Representation ID: 6104

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

Seddon Homes supports the preparation of a concise and locally distinctive vision for Cheshire
East, accompanied by clear objectives and no more than 10 measurable outcomes.
The vision should be positively framed around growth, recognising that the delivery of new homes
is essential to Cheshire East’s future prosperity. It should commit to meeting identified housing
need in full through a sustainable spatial strategy and the allocation of a diverse portfolio of
suitable, available and achievable sites across a range of settlements, sizes and timescales.
The objectives and outcomes should prioritise housing delivery, affordable housing and the
maintenance of a robust supply of deliverable land. They should also recognise the contribution of
a wide range of housebuilders that can build sites of various sizes to avoid the over-reliance on a
limited number of large strategic allocations. This would promote greater choice and reliability
within the housing land supply and support delivery throughout the plan period.

Comment

Representation ID: 6105

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

Seddon Homes supports the Council’s commitment to sustainable growth and the delivery of much
needed homes across the Borough. The new Local Plan should adopt a positive pro-growth
strategy which seeks to meet Cheshire East’s identified housing needs in full and identifies a
sufficient number of sites to maintain delivery throughout the plan period. This accords with Policy
S1 of the August 2026 NPPF, which requires plans to take a positive approach to growth and seek
to meet identified development needs as a minimum.

Comment

Representation ID: 6106

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

Seddon Homes supports the identification of a broad range of potential development sites to
provide a genuine choice and to ensure that Cheshire East’s housing needs can be met in full. The
proposed land availability assessment should be positive, transparent and proportionate to assess
sites consistently on their suitability, availability and achievability including the likely delivery
timescales in accord with Policy PM9 of the August 2026 NPPF.
The assessment should give appropriate weight to deliverability, including where land is controlled
by an active housebuilder that has proactively engaged with the Council and can deliver housing
imminently. It should also recognise the benefits of maintaining a diverse portfolio of sites across
different locations rather than relying on a disproportionate number of large strategic allocations.
Whilst Seddon Homes appreciates the Council’s ambitions to utilise Brownfield Development, we
believe the Council will have to identify housing options within the Green Belt to sufficiently
address the housing shortfall.
Seddon Homes has submitted a portfolio of sites through the Call for Sites process that can
support housing delivery across Cheshire East. The submissions include a wide range of land that
is available to an identified housebuilder, capable of making an early contribution to the housing
supply. The Council should therefore assess each promoted site positively and on its individual
merits, taking account of the evidence submitted and allowing promoters an opportunity to provide
updated or additional technical information before any site is excluded from further consideration.

Comment

Representation ID: 6107

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

Seddon Homes supports a borough-wide Green Belt assessment but considers that the Council’s
approach should be more positively framed. The August 2026 NPPF requires Green Belt
authorities to assess existing Green Belt land and identify possible grey belt sites as part of the
Local Plan evidence base. The assessment should therefore do more than just inform whether
Green Belt release may be necessary. It instead should actively identify sustainable opportunities
capable of contributing towards meeting Cheshire East’s development needs.
The sequential approach should not be applied as an absolute requirement to exhaust every
potential brownfield or non-Green Belt opportunity before suitable grey belt or other sustainable
Green Belt sites are considered. The availability of land outside of the Green Belt does not, by
itself, demonstrate that it is suitable, achievable or capable of meeting needs within the required
timescales. Any assessment should also consider the realistic capacity and infrastructure
requirements of alternative sites.
The Green Belt assessment should be transparent and consistent with the methodology as
outlined within Annex E of the NPPF, and undertaken at an appropriate granular level, assessing
specific sites. Sites should not be excluded solely because they are currently designated Green
Belt or considered against assumptions from previous assessments. Whilst the sites promoted on
behalf of Seddon Homes are not dependent upon Green Belt release, the Council’s assessment
should remain sufficiently flexible to identify suitable Green Belt and grey belt opportunities where
these are required to meet development needs.

Comment

Representation ID: 6108

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

Seddon Homes is promoting two related sites in Crewe, Land east of Sydney Road and the wider
Land west of the A534/south of Bradeley Hall Road. The sites are adjacent to the existing
settlement boundary and form a logical extension to Crewe, with established residential
development to the south and west, and the A534 providing a strong, permanent physical
boundary to the east.
Appropriate structural landscaping, green infrastructure and landscape buffers have been
incorporated within the development proposals to maintain visual separation between settlements
and ensure the wider function of the Strategic Green Gap is retained.
The submitted evidence clearly demonstrates that the proposed residential development would not
cause coalescence between Crewe and Haslington and would retain openness and settlement
identity without materially compromising the function of the Strategic Green Gap. The Council
should therefore take a proportionate and site-specific approach, recognising that not all land
within the designation performs the same function.