Local plan scoping consultation

Green belt should not be used. Every effort should be made to use brownfield sites and preserve our countryside.

This is good - brownfield sites should be redeveloped and not Green or Grey belt sites

It is important for nature and the environment (and therefore for the population in general) that Green spaces are preserved both around and within towns so I am against the changes to Green and Grey belt development

All new housing should be built with renewable energy provision - this should be mandatory not just “encouraged/supported”

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to comment on the local plan. The most important aspect for me is concern about losses to the Green Belt. I appreciate the need to build a significant number of new homes but this should not be to the detriment of our beautiful countryside which is so important for the health of the environment, nature and the people who live here.

I would therefore ask that brownfield sites be sought and considered for development and not Green belt land. Macclesfield is characterised by the surrounding rural landscape so removing Green belt will have a detrimental visual impact. Green belt on elevated land especially will have a negative visual impact. Views from the town towards the hills are stunning and many people (not just residents in the immediate vicinity) enjoy the views over Macclesfield from the elevated land so developing this area would spoil that.

More importantly though, any Green Belt should be protected as it is important to provide a visual transition between town and countryside and to provide a haven for wildlife to exist alongside our towns. We are learning to our cost the importance of protecting the natural environment and as we are destroying so much of it through climate change we must make every effort to protect it.

I would also like to emphasise the importance in the plan of ensuring that all new housing is provisioned with renewable energy sources to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. This should be mandated and not just encouraged or supported by the Council as the plan seems to be suggesting will be the case.

Thank you for taking these comments into consideration.