Local plan scoping consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 6234

Received: 01/09/2026

Respondent: Henry Smithers

1. Protection of Best and Most Versatile (BMV) Agricultural Land
The new Local Plan must prioritise the absolute protection of remaining agricultural land and greenfield sites on the edges of Elworth. At a time when food security and biodiversity are critical national priorities, the council should enforce a strict "brownfield-first" policy. Speculative development on active agricultural fields off Marsh Green Road harms the rural landscape and permanently destroys local ecosystems.
2. Visual Amenity and Community Character
The open fields at the edge of Elworth provide a vital green buffer that defines the character of our neighbourhood. Destroying this landscape to build high-density housing will result in a severe loss of visual amenity for existing residents who overlook this land. The new Local Plan should include robust policies that protect the rural-urban fringe from creeping urbanisation.
3. Unsustainable Infrastructure and Traffic Pressure
Elworth and the wider Sandbach area have already absorbed significant housing growth over the last decade. The local infrastructure—particularly the road network around Marsh Green Road, local primary schools, and GP surgeries—is already operating at or near capacity. Adding further residential developments on these peripheral fields will worsen traffic congestion, increase road safety risks, and put unsustainable pressure on public services.
Conclusion
The scoping framework for the new Local Plan must focus on sustainable regeneration rather than the continuous erosion of Elworth's green edges. I urge the planning team to protect the agricultural land off Marsh Green Road from future development allocations to safeguard both the environment and the quality of life for long-standing and new residents alike.
Thank you for taking my views into account during this consultation stage. I look forward to reviewing the next stage of the Local Plan.