The public examination of Cheshire East’s proposed strategic blueprint for the Borough’s development will resume next week.
The authority has presented its revised Local Plan Strategy (LPS) following comments and submissions during six weeks of public consultation earlier this year.
The blueprint, which will shape development across the Borough up to 2030, will now be examined in a series of public hearings by Planning Inspector Stephen Pratt, The hearings start on September 13 and are due to finish on October 21.
The focus of the last round of public consultation was on the changes the Council proposed to the plan it originally submitted to the Secretary of State in May 2014, in light of interim views by the Planning Inspector during examination. This included additional and amended strategic site allocations.
A significant amount of detailed research and evidence has been gathered to inform the amended document and this latest round of consultation aimed to capture the views of the public on the changes made and adopted by full Council in February 2016.
The Council received a total of 19,572 representations from 4,679 members of the public or groups during the most recent consultation.
The Council had already previously received more than 40,000 responses to the original draft Local Plan Strategy during nine previous rounds of public consultation.
Councillor Ainsley Arnold, who is overseeing the Local Plan process, said: “This revised Local Plan Strategy (LPS) is the Council’s most important tool for shaping development in Cheshire East up to 2030 and we now look forward to moving forward towards its examination and formal adoption.
“There has been a tremendous response from our residents and other stakeholders during the latest and nine previous rounds of public consultations on our proposals.
“Given the changes made during examination and the significance of the plan, it was only right that people have been given full opportunity to reflect on this LPS document and give their views.
“All told we have received a total of more than 60,000 responses in the various consultations to arrive at our draft LPS. This represents an unprecedented level of interest in a council consultation process and I’m sure this additional period of consultation has allowed everyone to feel they have had time and opportunity to have their say.
“I am pleased that the revised document is going forward and I am confident that the LPS is comprehensive and robust. Cheshire East’s LPS includes a comprehensive suite of development sites to accommodate the larger scale of growth now expected and planned for in the Borough.”
Updated evidence, completed during the earlier suspension of the inspector’s examination, necessitated revisions to the main strategic policies relating to housing, economic growth, development and green belt. The wording of policies was amended to reflect the outcome of the new evidence. This has now been publicly consulted on and further changes made.
Cllr Arnold added: “The Council is confident this Local Plan Strategy is comprehensive, fully consulted upon and robust – and we look forward towards its successful adoption.
“The final adoption of the Local Plan will help provide Cheshire East with a blueprint to better shape future growth and prevent unplanned or unsustainable development in the Borough.”
For more information about the Local Plan Strategy visit the webpage:
http://cheshireeast-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/planning/cs/sub1
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