Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 6023

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Seddon Developments

Agent: Asteer Planning

Seddon supports preparation of the new Local Plan and provides comments on the plan period, vision, growth strategy, housing, heritage and evidence base. While recognising that the consultation is not site-specific, they highlight their previous Call for Sites submission for Land at Back Lane, Radnor Park, Congleton, which they promote for mixed-use development. Seddon considers the site available, suitable, achievable and deliverable and requests that their previous representations are considered as the Council develops its spatial strategy and approach to land allocations. They also welcome continued engagement with the Council as preparation of the Local Plan progresses.

Comment

Representation ID: 6024

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Seddon Developments

Agent: Asteer Planning

Seddon considers that the Local Plan period should extend to at least 2050. They argue that a longer timeframe would provide greater resilience against delays, reflect the lead-in times associated with strategic development and infrastructure and help maintain a robust supply of housing and employment land. They consider that this would provide greater certainty for communities, landowners, developers and infrastructure providers. Seddon also argues that previously allocated land should be reviewed to establish whether its intended use remains realistically deliverable and that the Local Plan should provide sufficient flexibility for alternative uses where these can be robustly justified and respond to identified development needs.

Comment

Representation ID: 6025

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Seddon Developments

Agent: Asteer Planning

Seddon considers that the Local Plan should establish a clear, positive and ambitious vision for meeting Cheshire East’s housing, employment and infrastructure needs sustainably. They argue that the Plan should complement the Cheshire and Warrington Spatial Development Strategy and provide a framework for long-term growth and investment. Seddon supports directing growth towards well-connected locations within or closely related to existing settlements, including strategic sites. They also consider that the Plan should reflect the national presumption in favour of suitably located development while providing sufficient flexibility to support the long-term deliverability of strategic growth.

Comment

Representation ID: 6026

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Seddon Developments

Agent: Asteer Planning

Seddon supports a transparent, consistent and flexible site assessment methodology considering accessibility, settlement relationships, sustainability, deliverability, constraints and wider social, environmental and economic benefits. They argue that urban capacity should be considered before edge-of-settlement sites, while recognising that development beyond urban areas will also be required. Seddon highlights Land at Back Lane, where an employment marketing exercise is underway. They consider Plot 1 may accommodate employment development but suggest alternative uses, including housing or leisure, should be considered for Plot 2 if employment use is not deliverable. They request that their 2026 Call for Sites representations inform the assessment process. Figure 1 showing the Plot Plan can be identified in the submitted document.

Comment

Representation ID: 6027

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Seddon Developments

Agent: Asteer Planning

Seddon supports CEC’s intention to collect evidence to inform a review of the settlement hierarchy in the new Local Plan. The settlement hierarchy should be based on the current and future role and function of settlements, with consideration of the range, scale and accessibility of services and facilities, proximity to employment opportunities, public transport connectivity, relationship with surrounding settlements, housing and employment markets and the potential for settlements to accommodate sustainable growth.
Seddon considers that Congleton should be identified as a Principal Town in the settlement hierarchy in the new Local Plan owing to the wide range of services and facilities within Congleton and its high level of accessibility.

Comment

Representation ID: 6028

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Seddon Developments

Agent: Asteer Planning

Seddon considers that the Local Plan should establish a clear, positive and ambitious vision for meeting Cheshire East’s housing, employment and infrastructure needs sustainably. They argue that the Plan should compliment the Cheshire and Warrington Spatial Development Strategy and provide a framework for long-term growth and investment. Seddon supports directing growth towards well-connected locations within or closely related to existing settlements, including strategic sites. They also consider that the Plan should reflect the national presumption in favour of suitably located development while providing sufficient flexibility to support the long-term deliverability of strategic growth.

Comment

Representation ID: 6029

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Seddon Developments

Agent: Asteer Planning

Seddon notes that the Council does not intend to duplicate national decision-making policies in the new Local Plan but may introduce additional local policies where necessary. They argue that any local policies relating to development within settlements must remain consistent with NPPF Policy S4. Seddon highlights the national policy position that development within settlements should be approved unless adverse effects substantially outweigh the benefits. They therefore consider that additional local policies should not impose restrictions that would prevent development which would otherwise be considered acceptable under national planning policy.

Comment

Representation ID: 6030

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Seddon Developments

Agent: Asteer Planning

Seddon highlights the substantial increase in Cheshire East’s housing requirement and the Council’s current five-year housing land supply position. They argue that the Local Plan must identify 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, Seddon considers that sites outside settlement boundaries will also be required to meet housing needs. They support the Council undertaking an up-to-date Housing Needs Assessment and advocate a positive approach to identifying and meeting Cheshire East’s future housing requirements.

Comment

Representation ID: 6031

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Seddon 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: 6032

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Seddon Developments

Agent: Asteer Planning

Seddon supports reviewing and updating the Local Plan’s housing mix policies and advocates a flexible approach that responds to local housing needs rather than applying uniform requirements across the Borough. They consider 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. Seddon also recommends that the new Local Plan supersedes and updates the Cheshire East Borough Residential Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document adopted in 2017.