Local plan scoping consultation

I am writing as a resident of Hale to express my strong opposition to the potential allocation of Green Belt land around Ashley for large-scale development through the new Cheshire East Local Plan.

Please register this email as a formal representation to the current scoping consultation.

Although I live across the council boundary, the future of this countryside directly concerns neighbouring communities in Hale and the wider area. Planning decisions affecting Ashley must take account of their consequences beyond Cheshire East.

My principal concern is the loss of the open countryside that separates our built-up communities from rural Cheshire. This land provides an important buffer against the further spread of development. Large-scale building around Ashley risks permanently changing that relationship and eroding the character and openness that make the area special.

I ask the council to ensure that the Local Plan fully assesses the following issues before considering any allocation:

Green Belt protection and settlement separation

The council should rigorously assess the land’s role in checking urban sprawl and maintaining separation between settlements. Its contribution should be considered across the wider area, including Hale and Altrincham, rather than through individual parcels viewed in isolation.

Any suggestion that this land qualifies as grey belt must be supported by a transparent, site-specific assessment against national policy. It should not be assumed that land is suitable for development simply because it has been put forward by a landowner.

Traffic, road safety and infrastructure

I am concerned about the additional pressure large-scale development could place on roads through Ashley and towards Hale, including rural lanes, restricted bridges and routes connecting to the A538 and M56.

The council should require a cumulative transport assessment covering neighbouring Trafford communities, alongside credible evidence of public transport capacity. The existence of a railway station alone should not be treated as proof that development would be sustainable.

Any assessment must also address schools, healthcare, sewerage, utilities and drainage, with clear evidence of how necessary improvements would be funded and delivered.

Countryside, farmland and wildlife

The potential loss of productive agricultural land, established hedgerows, mature trees and wildlife habitats requires proper investigation. Agricultural land quality should be independently assessed, alongside the effects on protected habitats, woodland and ecological connections.

Landscape character and the settings of listed buildings and other heritage assets must also be considered before decisions are made.

Flood risk and airport-related constraints

The Local Plan should fully assess surface-water drainage and any potential increase in flood risk within the Bollin catchment. Manchester Airport noise and safeguarding requirements must also be addressed through appropriate technical evidence.

I recognise the need for new homes. However, meeting that need requires careful choices about location, infrastructure and long-term environmental consequences. The council should demonstrate that reasonable alternatives, including suitable brownfield land and locations with better existing services, have been properly considered.

I therefore ask Cheshire East Council to retain the Green Belt protection of land around Ashley and not take these sites forward for large-scale allocation. The new Local Plan must give proper weight to the cumulative impact on the countryside and neighbouring communities, supported by meaningful consultation with Trafford Council and affected residents.