Local plan scoping consultation

Previous Cheshire East Assessment (CFS284)

Cheshire East has previously assessed this land as site CFS284 during the Local Plan site selection process.

Following that assessment, the site was not taken forward for allocation because of significant Green Belt concerns.
The Council's own assessment concluded that:

The site makes a major contribution to the purposes of the Green Belt.

It plays an important role in maintaining the physical and visual separation between Mobberley and Knutsford, helping to prevent the gradual coalescence of these two distinct settlements.

Development would significantly reduce both the actual and perceived gap between the villages.

The land safeguards the countryside from encroachment and forms an important part of the open rural landscape.

The site contributes to preventing ribbon development and maintaining the openness that is fundamental to the Green Belt.

These are not my opinions; they are conclusions previously reached by Cheshire East through its own assessment process.

Whilst Cheshire East is now under increased pressure to deliver housing and meet Government housing targets, the land itself has not changed. The mature landscape, Green Belt function, openness, ecological value and the important separation between Mobberley and Knutsford all remain exactly as they did when Cheshire East previously assessed this site.

Housing targets may change, but the planning merits of this land do not. Simply because Cheshire East now needs to identify more housing sites does not alter the physical characteristics, environmental importance or Green Belt function of this location. The reasons why this site was previously considered unsuitable remain just as valid today.

I therefore urge Cheshire East to remain consistent with its previous assessment and recognise that the qualities which made this site unsuitable before continue to exist. Development would result in the irreversible loss of an important area of Green Belt, harm the rural character of the area, reduce the separation between Mobberley and Knutsford, and permanently diminish an important landscape that benefits both wildlife and the local community.