Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 5940

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Bridgemount Developments

Agent: Asteer Planning

Bridgemount Developments supports preparation of the new Local Plan and makes representations on the plan period, vision, growth, housing, heritage and evidence base. It promotes Land off London Road, Holmes Chapel, known as the Former Fisons Site, for housing. The respondent argues that the site is a deliverable, previously developed site within the settlement boundary, close to Holmes Chapel railway station and capable of accommodating approximately 100 homes. Despite an existing retail permission, Bridgemount considers the site suitable for housing and requests that its Call for Sites submission is considered positively as the spatial strategy and site allocation process progresses.

Comment

Representation ID: 5941

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Bridgemount Developments

Agent: Asteer Planning

Bridgemount Developments considers that the proposed Local Plan period to March 2045 should be extended to at least 2050. Although the proposed 15-year period meets minimum national policy requirements, it argues that a longer timeframe would provide greater resilience against delays in plan preparation and better accommodate the long lead-in times associated with strategic development and infrastructure. Extending the Plan would support a more proactive approach to long-term growth, help maintain a robust pipeline of deliverable housing and employment sites and provide greater certainty for communities, landowners, developers and infrastructure providers.

Comment

Representation ID: 5942

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Bridgemount Developments

Agent: Asteer Planning

Bridgemount Developments considers that the Local Plan should establish a positive and ambitious vision focused on meeting Cheshire East’s housing, employment and infrastructure needs sustainably. It should complement the Cheshire and Warrington Spatial Development Strategy and provide a clear framework for long-term growth and investment. The respondent advocates directing development towards well-connected locations within existing settlements and making efficient use of land. Previously developed land should be strongly prioritised for redevelopment in accordance with national planning policy, while the Plan should positively support suitably located development capable of contributing to the Borough’s identified needs.

Comment

Representation ID: 5943

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Bridgemount Developments

Agent: Asteer Planning

Bridgemount Developments supports a transparent, consistent and flexible site-selection methodology considering accessibility, settlement relationships, sustainability, deliverability, constraints and wider benefits. It argues that urban capacity and deliverable sites within existing settlements should be considered before edge-of-settlement locations. The respondent promotes Land off London Road, Holmes Chapel, noting its existing retail permission and arguing that there is no reasonable prospect of employment development on the majority of the site. It considers the site suitable for alternative development and requests that its 2026 Call for Sites representations are taken into account as the Council undertakes site assessment and develops the Local Plan.

Comment

Representation ID: 5944

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Bridgemount Developments

Agent: Asteer Planning

Bridgemount Developments supports an evidence-led review of the settlement hierarchy based on settlements’ current and future roles, accessibility to services, employment opportunities, public transport, housing and employment markets, and capacity for sustainable growth. It argues that Holmes Chapel should be identified as a Key Service Centre due to its range of services and facilities and its railway connections. The respondent highlights the frequency of rail services between Manchester and Crewe and considers Holmes Chapel railway station to meet the NPPF definition of a well-connected station, supporting the settlement’s ability to accommodate sustainable future growth.

Comment

Representation ID: 5945

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Bridgemount Developments

Agent: Asteer Planning

Bridgemount Developments supports a spatial strategy that directs significant growth towards higher-tier settlements, including Holmes Chapel, due to their services, employment opportunities, transport connections and infrastructure. It also supports densification and further development within existing settlements. The respondent argues that potential impacts from existing activities on new development should be assessed objectively through robust technical evidence and in accordance with national planning policy. Where significant adverse effects are identified, appropriate mitigation should be demonstrated and secured before occupation. Bridgemount considers that existing activities should not prevent otherwise acceptable development where suitable mitigation can be provided.

Comment

Representation ID: 5946

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Bridgemount Developments

Agent: Asteer Planning

Bridgemount Developments highlights the significant increase in Cheshire East’s housing requirement and the Council’s current five-year housing land supply position. It argues that the Local Plan must allocate sufficient deliverable sites to maintain a robust housing supply throughout the plan period. While urban capacity and sites within existing settlements should be considered first, the respondent considers that development outside existing settlement boundaries will also be necessary to meet housing needs. Bridgemount supports an up-to-date Housing Needs Assessment and calls for the Council to plan positively to meet identified housing requirements through the new Local Plan.

Comment

Representation ID: 5947

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Bridgemount Developments

Agent: Asteer Planning

As part of the evidence base for the current Local Plan, the Issues Paper identified that the median house price affordability ratio in the Borough was 8.14, increasing from 5.8 in the five years between 2018 and 2023. The Strategic Housing Market Assessment (“SHMA”) Update (2013) identified an annual net shortfall of 1,401 affordable homes, which represents a significant proportion of the housing needs for the Borough.
Affordable housing is predominantly delivered through market-led residential development, and, thus, the emerging Local Plan will need to allocate a sufficient number of viable housing sites capable of delivering affordable homes alongside market housing.

Comment

Representation ID: 5948

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Bridgemount Developments

Agent: Asteer Planning

Bridgemount Developments supports reviewing the Local Plan’s housing mix policies and advocates a flexible approach that responds to local housing needs rather than applying uniform requirements across Cheshire East. It considers that serviced plots for self-build and custom-build housing should only be required where there is evidence of unmet demand. Any stronger requirements for self-build and custom-build provision on larger sites should not undermine development viability or deliverability. Bridgemount also recommends that the new Local Plan supersedes and updates the Cheshire East Borough Residential Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document adopted in 2017.

Comment

Representation ID: 5950

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Bridgemount Developments

Agent: Asteer Planning

Bridgemount Developments supports balancing protection of the historic environment with housing, employment and infrastructure needs, giving appropriate weight to development benefits. It argues that development should not be automatically prevented because a site lies within or affects a World Heritage Site, buffer zone or setting. Regarding Jodrell Bank, the respondent supports proportionate, evidence-based assessment rather than blanket restrictions. Existing planning permissions should inform assessments of alternative proposals, with impacts considered through the planning balance. Any design or mitigation requirements should be justified by evidence, applied only where necessary and avoid unnecessarily affecting development viability or deliverability.