Comment

Representation ID: 15922

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: Lexwood Developments

Agent: HK Planning

I&O_16481
A tail piece should be added to 'avoid development in locations of high environmental value and on high grade agricultural land' that reads 'unless allocated in the Local Plan' as these are expected to be factors considered in allocating land for development, and should not have be re-iterated at application stage.

Comment

Representation ID: 16068

Received: 25/08/2025

Respondent: Mr & Mrs John & Kathy Ricketts

I&O_16649
Yes but brown field sites must be used

Comment

Representation ID: 16124

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: Rosemary Parkinson

I&O_16705
YES

Comment

Representation ID: 16180

Received: 03/09/2025

Respondent: Helen Wilman

I&O_16761
Yes - but new homes need to meet housing need, not developers' needs.

Comment

Representation ID: 16229

Received: 10/09/2025

Respondent: Liane Goryl

I&O_16810
I do agree with these ways of being sustainable. In some residential estates the current electric systems do not support EV charging for each house so this in turn has meant that the roads have had to be dug up and the electrics updated and re-routed.  So yes, to ensure the infrastructure is in place will be beneficial.  It would be good to understand how many people in the borough can afford electric vehicles.  I think people who already have homes should be supported to update their houses e.g. with solar panel and EV charging points for free or subsidised. Often this is just for people on low income and it should be available to more people, who may earn more but want to improve the house sustainability etc.

Comment

Representation ID: 16293

Received: 29/09/2025

Respondent: People's Choice Group Project

I&O_16874
Yes we agree.

Comment

Representation ID: 16357

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: Church Commissioners for England

Agent: Deloitte LLP

I&O_16938
The Commissioners is largely supportive of the suggested policy approach towards sustainable development which sets out enhanced requirements for new developments in the context of ensuring that climate change mitigation and adaption is prioritised in light of Cheshire West and Chester’s declared Climate Emergency. The Commissioners is supportive of the use of the caveat “ where relevant ” within the policy approach, and suggests that, when considering these sustainable development requirements in conjunction with the need to deliver much needed housing across the borough, such requirements should be considered on a case by case basis. It is considered that new development will act as a catalyst to future infrastructure investment in the district, which will bolster the sustainability and growth aspirations of the emerging Local Plan and ensure that Cheshire West and Chester becomes increasingly inclusive and accessible, satisfying many of the requirements of policy approach SD 1. Cognisant of this, and with awareness of the need for CWCC to deliver 1,914 homes per annum as a minimum under the new standard method, the Commissioners stresses the importance of ensuring that these requirements do not result in much needed development becoming unviable or undeliverable. Each development should endeavour, where possible, to deliver these climate mitigation and adaption requirements, however this should not come at a detriment to timely delivery. The Commissioners understands the importance of delivering these climate mitigation and adaption requirements in order to futureproof the borough in reaction to the declared Climate Emergency. Therefore, the Commissioners suggests that the Local Plan seek to prioritise the allocation of large-scale development sites which are more easily able to incorporate requirements such as “ high quality, interconnected and multifunctional green and blue infrastructure”, “water efficiency, water recycling and rainwater harvesting measures ” and “ sustainable transport choices to create healthy and inclusive communities “, through holistic masterplanning.

Support

Representation ID: 16409

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: Tarmac

Agent: Heatons

I&O_12905
The Issues and Options consultation publicises a draft plan for comment. The draft plan outline 4 overarching principles including ‘tackling climate change – adapting to and mitigating against the effects of climate change and achieving a net increase in biodiversity’.
This principle is reflected immediately in draft Policy SD 1 ‘Sustainable Development’ which, among other things, seeks to maximise opportunities to generate energy from renewable sources and to re-balance the grid through energy storage, and also to deliver high quality, interconnected and multifunctional green and blue infrastructure.

Section 28 of the draft plan relates to energy. Draft policies for solar energy, wind and other energy related developments are included and draft criteria are provided for considering applications. It is stated that proposals should take account of the Landscape Sensitivity Study and Guidance on Wind and Solar Photovoltaic Developments (2016) and be directed to the least sensitive locations.

It is clear that the emerging local plan will have a focus on delivering renewable energy infrastructure and enhancing biodiversity in Cheshire West and Chester. Tarmac’s Poolfields site could make an important contribution to both of those objectives.

Support

Representation ID: 16763

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: Bloor Homes North West

Agent: Lichfields

I&O_15481
Draft Policy SD1 (Sustainable Development) sets out the principles which new developments “must, where relevant”, meet. Bloor generally supports the principles set out in Policy SD1 and recognises the importance of new development in mitigating and adapting to climate change. Policy SD1 states that the redevelopment of previously developed land should be encouraged, and the development of greenfield land should be “minimised” as much as possible. Policy SD1 continues to state that proposals that fundamentally conflict with the above principles or policies within the Local Plan will be refused.  The Cheshire West and Chester Council Housing Land Monitor Summary Report (2025) [the HLM] states that on 1 April 2025, the Council can demonstrate a deliverable five-year housing land supply of 3,788 dwellings, equivalent to 1.89-year supply against a stated requirement of 10,038 dwellings. It should be noted that the Council has based its housing need on 2023 dwelling stock and 2024-2024 affordability ratios. Using the latest housing stock figures, the Council’s claimed supply actually represents a 1.87-year supply of housing land. The LPIO document recognises that some greenfield release will be required to meet housing need in the plan period. Bloor recognises the merits of a ‘brownfield first’ approach to development. The forthcoming application for residential development at Eaton Road will deliver homes on land which is in part previously developed. Bloor also acknowledges that it is imperative that sustainable greenfield sites also come forward to ensure that the Council can meet its housing requirement and the Government’s objective of significantly boosting the supply of homes (NPPF §61). Paragraph 5.3 of the LPIO document suggests that there are sites on previously developed land without planning permission within the main urban areas and Key Service Centres, with a potential capacity of 5,000 units. The LPIO recognises that this figure is however likely to reduce once a detailed assessment of developability has been undertaken. It will therefore be essential for greenfield land to be released for the Council to meet its housing requirement. Furthermore, brownfield development is often associated with significant viability constraints. An approach which seeks to ‘minimise’ greenfield development could hamper housing delivery and may not necessarily align with the spatial strategy of the Plan. The viability constraints associated with brownfield development means that this approach could be particularly harmful towards the delivery of affordable housing. Bloor suggests that the wording of this policy be amended to recognise that greenfield development on sustainable sites such as Eaton Road will be required in order for the Council to meet its housing need. Bloor welcomes the Council’s commitment in Policy SD1 to work proactively with applicants to find solutions which mean that proposals can be made sustainable and approved where possible. The wording of Policy SD1 should incorporate more flexibility to recognise that there will be instances where site specific constraints prevent accordance with all of the principles set out, and that this should not necessarily lead to a refusal but should instead be weighed against the positives of the scheme in the planning balance.