Have your say on shaping the future of Cheshire East

 

It’s time to have YOUR say on shaping the future development of Cheshire East to help unleash its potential.

Everybody is being invited to give their views on the Cheshire East Local Development Framework. This development plan will look at how our towns and villages should grow and change over the next 20 years and how the environment can be improved.

This plan will affect everybody who lives, works and visits Cheshire East. The first stage of consultation starts on November 8 and runs until December 17.

The Council wants your views on planning ahead to meet the key challenges facing Cheshire East up to 2030. These include:

● Meeting housing need – how much housing is needed and where?

● Promoting economic prosperity, jobs and growth;

● Supporting town centres;

● Improving transport connections;

● Working to promote cultural and social wellbeing;

● Conserving and enhancing the natural and built environment;

● Reducing impact on climate change.

People will also be asked to give their views on three options for growth in Cheshire East:

● Option One: Growth in Crewe and towns in the south of the borough. This would see limited growth in the north of the borough, no change to the green belt and limited rural development;

● Option Two: Growth in Crewe, Macclesfield and towns in the south of the borough. This would include change to the green belt at Macclesfield and some limited rural development;

● Option Three: Growth in Crewe, Macclesfield and neighbouring towns in between. This would include changes to the green belt and some limited rural development.

Councillor David Brown, Cabinet member with responsibility for performance and capacity, said: “This is a really important opportunity for people to really help shape the future direction of Cheshire East and take ownership of planning for their own future.

“The Local Development Framework will play a critical part in delivering the Council’s ambitious plans for the future of Cheshire East and help to unleash its tremendous potential – building on the borough’s already strong economic base.

“It will set out where new homes will be built, where new employment should be located and how the physical and social infrastructure will be provided to support new development.

“The framework will play an important part in tackling the issues surrounding climate change and in achieving sustainable development.

“It is also concerned with protecting and enhancing parts of Cheshire East that are important parts of our heritage. It’s about improving our town centres, protecting valued areas of open space and providing new recreation and leisure facilities. It also plays an important role in ensuring that the community’s need for affordable housing is met.”

There will be further opportunities for people get involved during further consultation on the Local Development Framework, focusing on towns, in 2011.

Copies of the consultation document will be available online on the Council’s website, at local libraries and at the Council Offices at Westfields, Sandbach, from November 8.

Comments can be submitted online at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ldf

Alternatively, email ldf@cheshireeast.gov.uk or write to:

Spatial Planning Team, Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach CW11 1HZ.

For more information and to comment, visit www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ldf