Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 6119

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

We believe that environmental evidence should inform the site selection process, without treating
the presence of any ecological, landscape, or green infrastructure considerations as an automatic
barrier or constraint to development, where impacts can be avoided or mitigated.
Any requirement for biodiversity net gain (BNG) above the national minimum of 10% should be
supported by clear local evidence and viability testing, with sufficient flexibility for gains to be
delivered onsite or offsite as deemed appropriate to not undermine the viability or delivery of
housing sites.

Comment

Representation ID: 6120

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

Seddon Homes agree that the Local Plan should promote healthy and inclusive communities by
delivering good-quality housing developments with accessible green spaces, active travel
connections and community infrastructure.
The Council should develop a detailed evidence base on the infrastructure needs of each
settlement with associated costs, phasing and funding. Health-related policies and infrastructure
requirements should be proportionate and evidence based, alongside other obligations to ensure
they do not undermine development viability or housing delivery.
New residential development should be recognised as having an important role in improving health
outcomes by increasing access to suitable homes and supporting existing services and facilities.

Comment

Representation ID: 6129

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

Seddon Homes agree that creating safe and secure places is essential to sustainable
communities. New development should incorporate appropriate design measures that provide
natural surveillance, safer walking routes and well-designed public spaces. Any policy
requirements should remain proportionate to the scale and nature of development and avoid
duplicating matters addressed through national policy or other regulatory regimes.

Comment

Representation ID: 6146

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

Seddon Homes agree that the Local Plan has the opportunity to reduce health inequalities across
the Borough by supporting the delivery of high-quality housing with accessible green spaces,
sustainable travel links and appropriate community facilities. New housing should be recognised as
an important contributor to healthier and more inclusive communities. Any local standards or new
Local Green Space designations should be justified by proportionate evidence and should not
unnecessarily constrain sustainable development or housing development.

Comment

Representation ID: 6147

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

The promotion of active travel measures is supported. As outlined, new development proposals
should provide safe and convenient walking and cycling connections, with the requirements being
proportionate to the scale, location and accessibility of each site. Existing network deficiencies
should not prevent sustainable development where appropriate improvements or mitigation can be
delivered.

Comment

Representation ID: 6148

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

Seddon Homes support the Council’s ambitions to address climate change, and itsaim to become
carbon neutral by 2045. Seddon Homes agree that the Local Plan will need to promote resilience
through its strategic approach to growth distribution and building design, including the allocation of
well-located housing sites that are energy efficient and include sustainable drainage and green
infrastructure.
Any local requirements relation to energy/water or carbon efficiency should be supported by robust
evidence and tested for technical feasibility, viability and deliverability. Additionally, they should
avoid duplicating or conflicting with the Building Regulations and retain sufficient flexibility to
respond to different site characteristics and changes in national standards over the plan period.
Measures to improve climate resilience should be integrated from the outset of development
without creating a disproportionate barrier to housing delivery. The reuse of existing buildings may
be appropriate in some circumstances such as town centre regeneration or previously developed
urban sites, but this should not constrain the efficient use or redevelopment of land where
development represents the most suitable and viable approach.

Comment

Representation ID: 6149

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

Cheshire East has a diverse range of heritage features, and conserving and enhancing the historic
environment is an important consideration. However, Seddon Homes believe that heritage
considerations should be assessed proportionately and on a site-specific basis, having regard to
the proximity and significance of the relevant heritage asset, and to the extent to which its setting
contributes to that significance.
The presence of a nearby designated or non-designated heritage asset, conservation area or site
of archaeological interest should not automatically preclude development where impacts can be
avoided or appropriately mitigated through layout, design or landscaping measures.
Similarly, any policies related to the Jodrell Bank should be based on clear evidence of the
potential effects on its outstanding universal value or operational function, rather than applying a
blanket restriction across its wider setting. This would ensure that important heritage assets are
properly conserved whilst allowing sustainable and sensitively designed growth to come forward.

Comment

Representation ID: 6150

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

Seddon Homes agree that creating well-designed and sustainable places is central to the planning
system, as demonstrated through national policy and emphasis on sustainable development. The
Local Plan should therefore include a clear and strategic design framework whilst avoiding
unnecessary duplication of national policy and guidance.
Design codes should be proportionate to the scale and complexity of developments, particularly
focused on strategic sites providing flexibility to respond to changing circumstances and detailed
design works.
The need to respect local character should be balanced against the efficient use of land and the
delivery of sufficient homes. Local character should inform development design, rather than
prevent appropriate growth or require replication of existing built form. Area or site-specific design
codes should therefore be prepared collaboratively, informed by evidence and tested to ensure
that the requirements are practical and viable.

Comment

Representation ID: 6151

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

Seddon Homes support the Council’s commitment to prepare a robust evidence base for the
emerging Local Plan, provided it remains up to date and proportionate, focused on the matters
necessary to justify the Local Plan’s strategy and housing allocations.
Given the scale of Cheshire East’s housing requirement and current shortfall, the evidence should
positively identify opportunities for growth assessing identified constraints against the identified
need ensuring that they don’t act as a barrier to development.
Particular importance should be placed on the Sustainability Appraisal, land availability
assessment, settlement hierarchy review, spatial distribution assessment, strategic green gap
review, infrastructure and viability evidence, as these will directly influence the assessment of sites
promoted through the Local Plan.
The Sustainability Appraisal should include a comprehensive assessment of reasonable growth
options and spatial alternatives, ensuring that sustainable development opportunities are fully
considered before being discounted.
Site assessment methodologies and assumptions should be transparent and applied consistently
throughout, but remain open to scrutiny. Promoters should be given an opportunity to submit
further evidence or address any identified constraints prior to sites are excluded.
Seddon Homes have submitted a portfolio of sites forward in the 2024 Call for Sites, and again in
the 2026 Call for Sites process. These sites have detailed technical evidence and reports available
to the Council. This information should be appropriately considered as part of the site assessment
process.

Comment

Representation ID: 6152

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: WSP UK

We support the transparent and proportionate approach to engagement proposed throughout each
stage. However, engagement with site promoters should not be limited to solely for procedural
matters of following published feedback.
Meaningful dialogue should take place before any decisions are made to exclude sites, enabling
promotors the opportunity to clarify their submissions and provide updated technical evidence to
demonstrate how the identified constraints could be mitigated.
This will be particularly important under the accelerated Gateway process where opportunities to
resolve site-specific matters may be limited. Equal treatment does not preclude constructive
engagement from the Council on individual sites where this supports a robust site selection and
result in better planning outcomes.
The Council should therefore provide a clear assessment criteria, publish their findings promptly
and ensure that the sites submitted by Seddon Homes in the Call for Sites process are fully
assessed before the draft Local Plan is published.