Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 7022

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Belport Limited

Agent: CBRE

Belport supports the Council’s approach to site assessment and preparation of a transparent, evidence-led Land Availability Assessment. They consider the assessment process should evaluate site suitability, availability, achievability, deliverability, viability and sustainability while balancing constraints against wider development benefits. The respondent emphasises the importance of maintaining a broad portfolio of site options to meet housing and growth needs and ensuring that sustainable, accessible and well-connected locations are given appropriate consideration. Belport highlights its land interests at Adlington as a potential contributor to housing, infrastructure and economic objectives, and advocates continued engagement as site assessment work progresses to ensure all reasonable development opportunities are properly assessed.

Comment

Representation ID: 7023

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Belport Limited

Agent: CBRE

Belport supports a review of the settlement hierarchy and considers it critical to developing a sound spatial strategy. The respondent argues that settlements should be assessed using up-to-date evidence on sustainability, accessibility, infrastructure capacity, services and future growth potential, rather than relying primarily on historic classifications. They advocate giving greater weight to public transport connectivity, access to employment, community infrastructure and sustainable travel opportunities. Belport considers Adlington functions as a sustainable settlement due to its railway station, primary school and local facilities and should be recognised accordingly. They recommend aligning the settlement hierarchy review with Green Belt, settlement boundary and spatial strategy work to ensure consistent, evidence-based decisions on future growth.

Comment

Representation ID: 7025

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Belport Limited

Agent: CBRE

Belport supports the Council’s objective of aligning growth, transport and infrastructure through the new Local Plan and considers infrastructure planning should be central to the spatial strategy. The respondent supports directing development towards accessible and sustainable locations with strong public transport connections and highlights national policy support for growth near well-connected railway stations. Belport argues that Adlington is a sustainable location due to its railway station, community facilities and accessibility to employment centres and higher-order settlements. They support preparation of an Infrastructure Delivery Plan that integrates transport, utilities, healthcare, education, green infrastructure and community facilities with site allocation decisions to ensure growth is coordinated, sustainable and supported by necessary infrastructure.

Comment

Representation ID: 7026

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Belport Limited

Agent: CBRE

Belport supports the Council’s commitment to preparing a robust and transparent evidence base for the new Local Plan and considers this essential to ensuring the Plan is positively prepared, justified and capable of withstanding examination. While welcoming the range of evidence documents proposed, they note the absence of a dedicated Green Belt Assessment from the published evidence base programme. Belport argues that current national policy requires a comprehensive Green Belt review, including assessment of Green Belt performance and identification of Grey Belt land. They therefore request that the Council prepares and publishes a standalone Green Belt Assessment early in the plan-making process to inform strategic decisions on site selection, settlement hierarchy and growth distribution.