Comment

Representation ID: 622

Received: 28/07/2025

Respondent: Ian Yarwood

I&O_705
Frodsham Development Plan FR 1 FR2.  I consider the plan is ill conceived. Frodsham cannot cope with more traffic owing to major problems with the M56 between J12 and J14 where gridlocks occur on a regular basis. This causes Frodsham to become quickly gridlocked. This Development Must Not Go Ahead This is not a polite suggestion. It is a firm and direct objection to building on FR001 and FR002, two parcels of Greenbelt land that border Hob Hey Wood and form part of Frodsham’s only remaining rural buffer. This proposal is a textbook example of poor planning: it increases flood risk, overloads roads, strains local services, destroys wildlife routes, and rips up national policy. If approved, it will damage the town and everyone in it. 2. Traffic is Already Broken The A56 and main roads through Frodsham are regularly gridlocked. When the M56 is closed or partially shut, all diverted traffic comes through the town. The Weaver Viaduct carries over 112,000 vehicles daily. That number spikes during roadworks, collisions, or closures. None of this is future risk. It's already happening. Add hundreds of extra vehicles from FR001 and FR002 and the problem gets worse. Emergency vehicles already struggle to get through. This development will slow response times even more, putting lives at risk. Source: Hansard (UK Parliament), 2015 – https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2015-11-17/debates/15111754000002/M56(Junctions12To14) 3. Severe Impact on Ancient Woodland Hob Hey is a Site of Biological Interest and ancient woodland, Britain’s most biodiverse habitat. The wood is home to thousands of species varying from common, to locally scarce, to nationally rare. Over 800 species are listed on the national biological recording site iRecord. Many species only occur in ancient woodland, an increasingly rare habitat. The wood is a haven for both wildlife and local people who enjoy walking the woodland and reaping the benefits of being in nature such as reduced anxiety and depression. Improvements to the immune system and reduced blood pressure also result from time spent in nature. Source: Nature and Mental Health Report’, Mind. Source: ( https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9665958/ ). 4. Wildlife Corridors Will Be Destroyed Hob Hey Wood is not a decorative patch of trees. It is a functioning woodland used by many species that need access to the surrounding environment. The wood connects to wider habitat corridors through the FR001 and FR002 areas. These corridors keep the ecology alive. Building here breaks those links forever. You can’t replace a hedgerow or regenerate a breeding ground once it’s buried under concrete. Source: Planning Inspectorate – https://nsip-documents.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/published-documents/EN010153-000069-6.1_ES%20Vol%201%20Chapter%207%20Terrestrial%20Ecology.pdf 5. Significant Disturbance to The Woodland Hob Hey is relatively secluded. Building hundreds of houses nearby could lead to significant disturbance of the woodland and its wildlife. The resulting huge increase in pets would result in problems. Cats are supreme predators which would take a toll on wildlife. Dogs would also disturb wildlife and their feces have been shown to cause nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. Source:  6. Flood Risk is Not a Hypothetical Surface water flooding is the biggest threat to homes in England today. Over 4.6 million homes are now at risk from it. That’s double the number at risk from rivers or coastal surge. In Frodsham, those risks already exist. Hob Hey Wood and the green land around it act as a sponge. They slow rain and reduce flood peaks. Building on FR002 and FR001 means water runs off faster, overloading drains and pushing into homes and roads. The council’s own Flood Risk Assessment warns against removing these natural barriers. From the late 1990’s to 2005 this happened in Langdale Way! Residents experienced multiple sewerage floods leading to a campaign involving both the council and United Utilities to resolve the issue before the houses became uninsurable. This resulted in a year long disruptive excavation at Manor House School fields to install huge tanks to stem the catastrophic floods. UU stated that this was the only site that that type of construction could take place. House building adjacent could result in these issues arising again! Source: Cheshire West SFRA – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/parking-roads-and-travel/highways/flood-risk-assessment-final-report.pdf Source: Financial Times – https://www.ft.com/content/ff3bb769-9339-4015-80bc-4a3ea446504e 7. GP Practices and Schools Are Full There is no spare capacity in Frodsham’s infrastructure. GP practices are running at limit. Schools are close to capacity. New homes mean more pressure, more waiting, more stretched services. No part of this development includes concrete plans or funding for new public services. That means the burden falls on existing ones, which are already struggling. Source: Cheshire West Monitoring Reports – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/planning-and-building-control/local-plan/authority-monitoring-report 8. Air Quality and Light Pollution Will Get Worse Frodsham is already inside an Air Quality Management Area. Cars are the top local pollutant. FR001 and FR002 would bring more cars, more exhaust, and more noise into a space that’s supposed to be protected. Lighting from new housing, cars and street lamps will spill into Hob Hey Wood and rural zones. This ruins habitat for nocturnal species and affects human sleep cycles. Light pollution has a detrimental effect on bats. There are seven species present in Hob Hey Wood including rare Nathusius’ pipistrelle. Moths are also affected by light pollution. Source: Cheshire West AQMA Action Plan – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/pests-pollution-food-safety/pollution-and-air-quality/air-quality-review-and-assessment/action-plans/action-plan-frodsham-0118.pdf Source: Bat Conservation Trust Guidance NoteGN08/23Bats and Artificial Lighting At Night. Source: Impact of light pollution on moth morphology–A 137-year study in Germany https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2021.05.004 ). Antisocial Behaviour and Isolation Will Rise New estates without integrated planning lead to social fragmentation. These areas become disconnected, under-policed, and under-supported. This isn’t speculation. It’s known from other developments nationally. The National Planning Policy Framework requires that growth supports community cohesion. This proposal does not. It isolates new homes on the edge of town and dumps responsibility for cohesion onto already stretched services. Source: NPPF (2023) – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework--2 10. House Prices Will Drop People buy in Frodsham for access to open countryside, peace, and green views. Strip those away, and the value drops. This development removes the very features that give existing homes their worth. Homeowners who’ve invested in the area will be hit with lower resale values and a loss of the rural edge they were sold on. Developers walk away with profit. Residents are left picking up the cost. 11. Greenbelt Is Not A Technicality The Greenbelt is there for a reason. Once you breach it, you set precedent for more erosion. This is not just about FRO01 or FRO02. It’s about what follows next if this goes ahead. National guidance is clear: development on Greenbelt land must be avoided unless there are absolutely no alternatives. In this case, there are alternatives. This land should remain untouched. Source: GOV.UK Greenbelt Guidance – ttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-planning-policy-framework/13-protecting-green-belt-land 12. Final Statement – Reject This Now This proposal is bad planning. It adds pressure to failing infrastructure. It increases flood risk. It destroys wildlife corridors. It worsens air quality. It lowers property values. It puts lives at risk. It benefits developers and damages communities. This is not sustainable. It is not justified. It is not acceptable. FRO01 and FRO02 must be removed from development plans entirely. This objection demands that the proposal be rejected in full. Nothing else will do.

Comment

Representation ID: 623

Received: 29/07/2025

Respondent: Katie Range Birchall

I&O_706
I am writing as a local resident of Frodsham to submit my formal objection to the proposed development of Greenbelt land identified as FRO01 and FRO02 in the Local Plan consultation (Section 5.1, Questions SS41–SS43). These proposals would significantly and irreversibly damage both the character of the area and the well-being of its residents. I strongly object to these sites being considered for development, and I urge you to remove them from the Local Plan for the following reasons: Greenbelt Protection FRO01 and FRO02 form part of Frodsham’s last rural buffer and are currently protected under Greenbelt designation. The proposed development would breach national planning policy, which clearly states that Greenbelt land should only be developed in exceptional circumstances. No such circumstances exist here, particularly when alternative brownfield or more suitable sites may be available. Impact on Hob Hey Wood and Biodiversity Hob Hey Wood is a Site of Biological Interest and ancient woodland. It is home to over 800 recorded species, including nationally rare and locally scarce wildlife. Developing adjacent land will fragment ecological corridors, disrupt fragile habitats, and result in irreversible biodiversity loss. Infrastructure Overload Local infrastructure cannot absorb further strain. Roads are already heavily congested, particularly the A56 and during incidents on the M56. Emergency services frequently face delays. GP practices and schools are at capacity, and no credible mitigation or investment plans have been proposed as part of this development. Flood Risk FR001 and FR002 play a vital role in managing surface water runoff. Past incidents in Langdale Way and the surrounding area have shown the devastating impact of poor drainage and overloaded sewer systems. Removing this natural flood buffer would heighten risks to existing homes and businesses. Air Quality and Environmental Harm Frodsham is within an Air Quality Management Area. Increasing vehicle numbers, light pollution, and noise levels will harm both public health and wildlife. Hob Hey Wood, which currently provides a space for well-being and connection with nature, will suffer from increased disturbance and degradation. Community Cohesion and Social Impact Developing estates on the town’s rural edges, without infrastructure or meaningful integration into the community, risks isolation, antisocial behaviour, and social fragmentation. This approach contradicts the National Planning Policy Framework’s guidance on sustainable and inclusive development.  Economic Harm to Residents Residents have invested in Frodsham due to its rural charm, access to nature, and peaceful environment. The proposed development undermines these qualities, risks reducing house values, and erodes trust in local planning. In summary, these proposals are unsustainable, inappropriate, and unsupported by infrastructure. They pose direct threats to the environment, public safety, and the long-term character of Frodsham. As a local resident, I respectfully request that sites FRO01 and FRO02 be removed from the Local Plan immediately.

Comment

Representation ID: 624

Received: 28/07/2025

Respondent: Miss Jordan Dolan

I&O_707
I am writing with my concerns regarding your recently proposed development within Frodsham. The affecting areas including but not limited to hob hey woods. This is located on page 11 and relevant codes FR001 & FR002. 1. This Development Must Not Go Ahead This is not a polite suggestion. It is a firm and direct objection to building on FR001 and FR002, two parcels of Greenbelt land that border Hob Hey Wood and form part of Frodsham’s only remaining rural buffer. This proposal is a textbook example of poor planning: it increases flood risk, overloads roads, strains local services, destroys wildlife routes, and rips up national policy. If approved, it will damage the town and everyone in it. 2. Traffic is Already Broken The A56 and main roads through Frodsham are regularly gridlocked. When the M56 is closed or partially shut, all diverted traffic comes through the town. The Weaver Viaduct carries over 112,000 vehicles daily. That number spikes during roadworks, collisions, or closures. None of this is future risk. It's already happening. Add hundreds of extra vehicles from FR001 and FR002 and the problem gets worse. Emergency vehicles already struggle to get through. This development will slow response times even more, putting lives at risk. Source: Hansard (UK Parliament), 2015 – https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2015-11-17/debates/15111754000002/M56(Junctions12To14)   3. Severe Impact on Ancient Woodland Hob Hey is a Site of Biological Interest and ancient woodland, Britain’s most biodiverse habitat. The wood is home to thousands of species varying from common, to locally scarce, to nationally rare. Over 800 species are listed on the national biological recording site iRecord. Many species only occur in ancient woodland, an increasingly rare habitat. The wood is a haven for both wildlife and local people who enjoy walking the woodland and reaping the benefits of being in nature such as reduced anxiety and depression. Improvements to the immune system and reduced blood pressure also result from time spent in nature. Source: Nature and Mental Health Report’, Mind. Source: ( https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9665958/ ). 4. Wildlife Corridors Will Be Destroyed Hob Hey Wood is not a decorative patch of trees. It is a functioning woodland used by many species that need access to the surrounding environment. The wood connects to wider habitat corridors through the FR001 and FR002 areas. These corridors keep the ecology alive. Building here breaks those links forever. You can’t replace a hedgerow or regenerate a breeding ground once it’s buried under concrete. Source: Planning Inspectorate – https://nsip-documents.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/published-documents/EN010153-000069-6.1_ES%20Vol%201%20Chapter%207%20Terrestrial%20Ecology.pdf 5. Significant Disturbance to The Woodland Hob Hey is relatively secluded. Building hundreds of houses nearby could lead to significant disturbance of the woodland and its wildlife. The resulting huge increase in pets would result in problems. Cats are supreme predators which would take a toll on wildlife. Dogs would also disturb wildlife and their feces have been shown to cause nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/07/dog-pee-and-poo-harming-nature-reserves-study 6. Flood Risk is Not a Hypothetical Surface water flooding is the biggest threat to homes in England today. Over 4.6 million homes are now at risk from it. That’s double the number at risk from rivers or coastal surge. In Frodsham, those risks already exist. Hob Hey Wood and the green land around it act as a sponge. They slow rain and reduce flood peaks. Building on FR002 and FR001 means water runs off faster, overloading drains and pushing into homes and roads. The council’s own Flood Risk Assessment warns against removing these natural barriers. From the late 1990’s to 2005 this happened in Langdale Way! Residents experienced multiple sewerage floods leading to a campaign involving both the council and United Utilities to resolve the issue before the houses became uninsurable. This resulted in a year long disruptive excavation at Manor House School fields to install huge tanks to stem the catastrophic floods. UU stated that this was the only site that that type of construction could take place. House building adjacent could result in these issues arising again! Source: Cheshire West SFRA – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/parking-roads-and-travel/highways/flood-risk-assessment-final-report.pdf Source: Financial Times – https://www.ft.com/content/ff3bb769-9339-4015-80bc-4a3ea446504e 7. GP Practices and Schools Are Full There is no spare capacity in Frodsham’s infrastructure. GP practices are running at limit. Schools are close to capacity. New homes mean more pressure, more waiting, more stretched services. No part of this development includes concrete plans or funding for new public services. That means the burden falls on existing ones, which are already struggling. Source: Cheshire West Monitoring Reports – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/planning-and-building-control/local-plan/authority-monitoring-report 8. Air Quality and Light Pollution Will Get Worse Frodsham is already inside an Air Quality Management Area. Cars are the top local pollutant. FR001 and FR002 would bring more cars, more exhaust, and more noise into a space that’s supposed to be protected. Lighting from new housing, cars and street lamps will spill into Hob Hey Wood and rural zones. This ruins habitat for nocturnal species and affects human sleep cycles. Light pollution has a detrimental effect on bats. There are seven species present in Hob Hey Wood including rare Nathusius’ pipistrelle. Moths are also affected by light pollution. Source: Cheshire West AQMA Action Plan – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/pests-pollution-food-safety/pollution-and-air-quality/air-quality-review-and-assessment/action-plans/action-plan-frodsham-0118.pdf Source: Bat Conservation Trust Guidance NoteGN08/23Bats and Artificial Lighting At Night. Source: Impact of light pollution on moth morphology–A 137-year study in Germany https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2021.05.004 ). 9. Antisocial Behaviour and Isolation Will Rise New estates without integrated planning lead to social fragmentation. These areas become disconnected, under-policed, and under-supported. This isn’t speculation. It’s known from other developments nationally. The National Planning Policy Framework requires that growth supports community cohesion. This proposal does not. It isolates new homes on the edge of town and dumps responsibility for cohesion onto already stretched services. Source: NPPF (2023) – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework--2 10. House Prices Will Drop People buy in Frodsham for access to open countryside, peace, and green views. Strip those away, and the value drops. This development removes the very features that give existing homes their worth. Homeowners who’ve invested in the area will be hit with lower resale values and a loss of the rural edge they were sold on. Developers walk away with profit. Residents are left picking up the cost. 11. Greenbelt Is Not A Technicality The Greenbelt is there for a reason. Once you breach it, you set precedent for more erosion. This is not just about FRO01 or FRO02. It’s about what follows next if this goes ahead. National guidance is clear: development on Greenbelt land must be avoided unless there are absolutely no alternatives. In this case, there are alternatives. This land should remain untouched. Source: GOV.UK Greenbelt Guidance – ttps:// www.gov.uk/guidance/national-planning-policy-framework/13-protecting-green-belt-land 12. Final Statement – Reject This Now This proposal is bad planning. It adds pressure to failing infrastructure. It increases flood risk. It destroys wildlife corridors. It worsens air quality. It lowers property values. It puts lives at risk. It benefits developers and damages communities. This is not sustainable. It is not justified. It is not acceptable. FRO01 and FRO02 must be removed from development plans entirely. This objection demands that the proposal be rejected in full. Nothing else will do.

Comment

Representation ID: 625

Received: 28/07/2025

Respondent: Bob Ratcliffe

I&O_708
I write as a concerned former resident, who regularly still visits his mother at Five Crosses in Frodsham. Recent reports on the proposals are a real worry.  I am always troubled by projects to build on greenfield sites (that are meant only to be developed in "exceptional circumstances" according to the National Planning Policy Framework), especially given the brownfield areas that are in abundance and which are supposed to be chosen ahead of such vital parcels of farmland and wilderness.  This building plan, however, far surpasses that in terms of its potential to create a catastrophe. Hob Hey Wood is an important ancient woodland, home to rare species, and it would be severely affected by such a nearby development.  The noise and light from any building work and long-term residence would easily be enough to scare-away much of this important biodiversity bubble.  The woodland is part of an ever-decreasing footprint of these lands across our country and any such threats must be taken seriously.  Local hedgerows (themselves a natural habitat under extreme threat) would also be in danger from these developments, of course, and all of this points to a tragic loss of wildlife and the subsequent knock-on to the rest of our ecosystem. Infrastructure is another concern.  Frodsham is highly congested as things are.  Any further housing developments will lead to an inevitable surge in local vehicle usage and thus to bottlenecked traffic and pollution.  Sewerage is going to become a problem in an already overloaded town system and any building work in this area, which consists of porous fields, will result in a danger of flooding and soil erosion around the banks of the River Weaver's tributary streams & brooks. From where will the added schooling, medical, and social care come to service this expanded Frodsham?  There is no longer a secondary school in the town and there are scant other facilities for the rest of the current population. In all, this seems an ill-thought-out plan that will have serious consequences for the local populace and wildlife. I would like to add my name to the list of people who oppose this development.

Comment

Representation ID: 626

Received: 28/07/2025

Respondent: Allen Wales

I&O_709
Excessive housebuilding will remove and spoil areas of countryside around Frodsham In addition, where is the provision for Healthcare, doctors, doctors surgeries, dental provision? Roads in Frodsham choke as soon as the M56 has an issue, adding 2000 house will generate several thousand vehicles, exacerbating the already under strain road system. The A56 and main roads through Frodsham are regularly gridlocked. When the M56 is closed or partially shut, all diverted traffic comes through the town. The Weaver Viaduct carries over 112,000 vehicles daily. That number spikes during roadworks, collisions, or closures. None of this is future risk. It's already happening. Add hundreds of extra vehicles from FR001 and FR002 and the problem gets worse. Emergency vehicles already struggle to get through. This development will slow response times even more, putting lives at risk. Source: Hansard (UK Parliament), 2015 – https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2015-11-17/debates/15111754000002/M56(Junctions12To14) Also, education capacity, only 1 High school, with limited expansion potential. There is no spare capacity in Frodsham’s infrastructure. GP practices are running at limit. Schools are close to capacity. New homes mean more pressure, more waiting, more stretched services. No part of this development includes concrete plans or funding for new public services. That means the burden falls on existing ones, which are already struggling. Source: Cheshire West Monitoring Reports – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/planning-and-building-control/local-plan/authority-monitoring-report Parking - very little parking within Frodsham, where would extra parking come from? Recycling centre - non-compliant and has been for years - how will this centre cope with extra housing? Leisure facilities - what capacity are they running at now? This proposal is bad planning. It adds pressure to failing infrastructure. It increases flood risk. It destroys wildlife corridors. It worsens air quality. It lowers property values. It puts lives at risk. It benefits developers and damages communities. This is not sustainable. It is not justified. It is not acceptable. FRO01 and FRO02 must be removed from development plans entirely. This objection demands that the proposal be rejected in full. Nothing else will do. An alternative would be to allow empty retail properties to be reused as residential - TSB Bank, Natwest Bank, Yuet Ben, Conservative Club, 76 Main St, empty house next to Whitmore and White, Amore, Railway Goods shed, derelict brook house on the corner of Fountain Lane.

Comment

Representation ID: 627

Received: 29/07/2025

Respondent: Susan Sedwell

I&O_710
I am writing to firmly object to the proposal of building on FR001 & FR002 This Development Must Not Go Ahead This is not a polite suggestion. It is a firm and direct objection to building on FR001 and FR002, two parcels of Greenbelt land that border Hob Hey Wood and form part of Frodsham’s only remaining rural buffer. This proposal is a textbook example of poor planning: it increases flood risk, overloads roads, strains local services, destroys wildlife routes, and rips up national policy. If approved, it will damage the town and everyone in it. Traffic is Already Broken The A56 and main roads through Frodsham are regularly gridlocked. When the M56 is closed or partially shut, all diverted traffic comes through the town. The Weaver Viaduct carries over 112,000 vehicles daily. That number spikes during roadworks, collisions, or closures. None of this is future risk. It's already happening. Add hundreds of extra vehicles from FR001 and FR002 and the problem gets worse. Emergency vehicles already struggle to get through. This development will slow response times even more, putting lives at risk. Source: Hansard (UK Parliament), 2015 – https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhansard.parliament.uk%2FCommons%2F2015-11-17%2Fdebates%2F15111754000002%2FM56&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7Cbbef848bf92c48668a8308ddce709a06%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638893705312481531%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=JS69DBjzzVAHxnjmYnEBXV21Yz004gAHOmNTetCNpWQ%3D&reserved=0(Junctions12To14) Severe Impact on Ancient Woodland Hob Hey is a Site of Biological Interest and ancient woodland, Britain’s most biodiverse habitat. The wood is home to thousands of species varying from common, to locally scarce, to nationally rare. Over 800 species are listed on the national biological recording site iRecord. Many species only occur in ancient woodland, an increasingly rare habitat.  The wood is a haven for both wildlife and local people who enjoy walking the woodland and reaping the benefits of being in nature such as reduced anxiety and depression. Improvements to the immune system and reduced blood pressure also result from time spent in nature. Source: Nature and Mental Health Report’, Mind. Source: ( https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Farticles%2FPMC9665958%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7Cbbef848bf92c48668a8308ddce709a06%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638893705312512719%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=tBIXnaUlFH0Y6Sb1eI9F9DM6rFGx3i0YKCcdp84Mt5g%3D&reserved=0 ). Wildlife Corridors Will Be Destroyed Hob Hey Wood is not a decorative patch of trees. It is a functioning woodland used by many species that need access to the surrounding environment. The wood connects to wider habitat corridors through the FR001 and FR002 areas. These corridors keep the ecology alive. Building here breaks those links forever. You can’t replace a hedgerow or regenerate a breeding ground once it’s buried under concrete. Source: Planning Inspectorate – https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnsip-documents.planninginspectorate.gov.uk%2Fpublished-documents%2FEN010153-000069-6.1_ES%2520Vol%25201%2520Chapter%25207%2520Terrestrial%2520Ecology.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7Cbbef848bf92c48668a8308ddce709a06%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638893705312528736%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RbmcU8n9pxhnOl8HQbafrh0J%2FGldH9MHBY%2BkuvPj4Ss%3D&reserved=0 Significant Disturbance to The Woodland Hob Hey is relatively secluded. Building hundreds of houses nearby could lead to significant disturbance of the woodland and its wildlife. The resulting huge increase in pets would result in problems. Cats are supreme predators which would take a toll on wildlife. Dogs would also disturb wildlife and their feces have been shown to cause nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. Source: https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fenvironment%2F2022%2Ffeb%2F07%2Fdog-pee-and-poo-harming-nature-reserves-study&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7Cbbef848bf92c48668a8308ddce709a06%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638893705312542759%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=pVonW1LvXTB9Nj5lM2RPnY9zMDxjbRK5VP9qw4o%2F66c%3D&reserved=0 Flood Risk is Not a Hypothetical Surface water flooding is the biggest threat to homes in England today. Over 4.6 million homes are now at risk from it. That’s double the number at risk from rivers or coastal surge. In Frodsham, those risks already exist. Hob Hey Wood and the green land around it act as a sponge. They slow rain and reduce flood peaks. Building on FR002 and FR001 means water runs off faster, overloading drains and pushing into homes and roads. The council’s own Flood Risk Assessment warns against removing these natural barriers. From the late 1990’s to 2005 this happened in Langdale Way! Residents experienced multiple sewerage floods leading to a campaign involving both the council and United Utilities to resolve the issue before the houses became uninsurable. This resulted in a year long disruptive excavation at Manor House School fields to install huge tanks to stem the catastrophic floods. UU stated that this was the only site that that type of construction could take place. House building adjacent could result in these issues arising again! Source: Cheshire West SFRA – https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%2Fdocuments%2Fparking-roads-and-travel%2Fhighways%2Fflood-risk-assessment-final-report.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7Cbbef848bf92c48668a8308ddce709a06%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638893705312556940%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=7BXgNis%2FdBMhEGDi%2FBbNwuyFjmhhRWTofyFGiraC1%2Bw%3D&reserved=0 Source: Financial Times – https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcontent%2Fff3bb769-9339-4015-80bc-4a3ea446504e&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7Cbbef848bf92c48668a8308ddce709a06%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638893705312570567%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=b5PvCs8LfF1%2FV5UJTF3z%2B2%2BaB4ntO9vp%2BiSk%2FbAImdQ%3D&reserved=0 GP Practices and Schools Are Full There is no spare capacity in Frodsham’s infrastructure. GP practices are running at limit. Schools are close to capacity. New homes mean more pressure, more waiting, more stretched services. No part of this development includes concrete plans or funding for new public services. That means the burden falls on existing ones, which are already struggling. Source: Cheshire West Monitoring Reports – https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%2Fresidents%2Fplanning-and-building-control%2Flocal-plan%2Fauthority-monitoring-report&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7Cbbef848bf92c48668a8308ddce709a06%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638893705312585526%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zbdNbmXOpx%2FS9Xx3UuUyH0XaSqqzRDtbaJv3N9pX4DA%3D&reserved=0 Air Quality and Light Pollution Will Get Worse Frodsham is already inside an Air Quality Management Area. Cars are the top local pollutant. FR001 and FR002 would bring more cars, more exhaust, and more noise into a space that’s supposed to be protected. Lighting from new housing, cars and street lamps will spill into Hob Hey Wood and rural zones. This ruins habitat for nocturnal species and affects human sleep cycles. Light pollution has a detrimental effect on bats. There are seven species present in Hob Hey Wood including rare Nathusius’ pipistrelle. Moths are also affected by light pollution. Source: Cheshire West AQMA Action Plan – https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%2Fdocuments%2Fpests-pollution-food-safety%2Fpollution-and-air-quality%2Fair-quality-review-and-assessment%2Faction-plans%2Faction-plan-frodsham-0118.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7Cbbef848bf92c48668a8308ddce709a06%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638893705312599752%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=cJDVXoYnqCTVhkpjkat%2FGEhMaqRUWyuG145xHKZ9T9A%3D&reserved=0 Source: Bat Conservation Trust Guidance NoteGN08/23Bats and Artificial Lighting At Night. Source: Impact of light pollution on moth morphology–A 137-year study in Germany https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.1016%2Fj.baae.2021.05.004&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7Cbbef848bf92c48668a8308ddce709a06%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638893705312613579%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=8HDibJN8PoRxkt83Swykvk7zVbpVSzbHK5ObSg7bO%2BY%3D&reserved=0 ). Antisocial Behaviour and Isolation Will Rise New estates without integrated planning lead to social fragmentation. These areas become disconnected, under-policed, and under-supported. This isn’t speculation. It’s known from other developments nationally. The National Planning Policy Framework requires that growth supports community cohesion. This proposal does not. It isolates new homes on the edge of town and dumps responsibility for cohesion onto already stretched services. Source: NPPF (2023) – https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fnational-planning-policy-framework--2&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7Cbbef848bf92c48668a8308ddce709a06%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638893705312630266%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ATJ6W7JZz1ouAnb2Cg%2Fl2Sr6FU1hpPUFT2XSWf2cf7w%3D&reserved=0 House Prices Will Drop People buy in Frodsham for access to open countryside, peace, and green views. Strip those away, and the value drops. This development removes the very features that give existing homes their worth. Homeowners who’ve invested in the area will be hit with lower resale values and a loss of the rural edge they were sold on. Developers walk away with profit. Residents are left picking up the cost. Greenbelt Is Not A Technicality The Greenbelt is there for a reason. Once you breach it, you set precedent for more erosion. This is not just about FRO01 or FRO02. It’s about what follows next if this goes ahead. National guidance is clear: development on Greenbelt land must be avoided unless there are absolutely no alternatives. In this case, there are alternatives. This land should remain untouched. Source: GOV.UK Greenbelt Guidance – ttps://https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Fnational-planning-policy-framework%2F13-protecting-green-belt-land&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7Cbbef848bf92c48668a8308ddce709a06%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638893705312650183%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=yhPhkIMsIX4d%2FUi5RePLT%2BqA%2FHaPdY83mYWXPmdcjFQ%3D&reserved=0 Final Statement – Reject This Now This proposal is bad planning. It adds pressure to failing infrastructure. It increases flood risk. It destroys wildlife corridors. It worsens air quality. It lowers property values. It puts lives at risk. It benefits developers and damages communities. This is not sustainable. It is not justified. It is not acceptable. FRO01 and FRO02 must be removed from development plans entirely. This objection demands that the proposal be rejected in full. Nothing else will do.

Comment

Representation ID: 646

Received: 30/07/2025

Respondent: Marc Vannerem

I&O_729
I don't believe that FR002 would be suitable at all. It is the furthest from the centre of Frodsham and would result in significant traffic congestion and loss of unspoiled green belt.  Traffic density is already extremely high along Kingsley Road, the B5152. 

Comment

Representation ID: 653

Received: 31/07/2025

Respondent: Mark O'Sullivan

SS42
I&O_736
Yes, don’t build on FRO01 and FRO02. This is not a polite suggestion. It is a firm and direct objection to building on FR001 and FR002, two parcels of Greenbelt land that border Hob Hey Wood and form part of Frodsham’s only remaining rural buffer. This proposal is a textbook example of poor planning: it increases flood risk, overloads roads, strains local services, destroys wildlife routes, and rips up national policy. If approved, it will damage the town and everyone in it. Objections in detail Severe Impact on Ancient Woodland Hob Hey is a Site of Biological Interest and ancient woodland, Britain’s most biodiverse habitat. The wood is home to thousands of species varying from common, to locally scarce, to nationally rare. Over 800 species are listed on the national biological recording site iRecord. Many species only occur in ancient woodland, an increasingly rare habitat. The wood is a haven for both wildlife and local people who enjoy walking the woodland and reaping the benefits of being in nature such as reduced anxiety and depression. Improvements to the immune system and reduced blood pressure also result from time spent in nature. Source: Nature and Mental Health Report’, Mind. Source: (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9665958/). Wildlife Corridors Will Be Destroyed Hob Hey Wood is not a decorative patch of trees. It is a functioning woodland used by many species that need access to the surrounding environment. The wood connects to wider habitat corridors through the FR001 and FR002 areas. These corridors keep the ecology alive. Building here breaks those links forever. You can’t replace a hedgerow or regenerate a breeding ground once it’s buried under concrete. Source: Planning Inspectorate – https://nsip-documents.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/published-documents/EN010153-000069-6.1_ES%20Vol%201%20Chapter%207%20Terrestrial%20Ecology.pdf Significant Disturbance to The Woodland Hob Hey is relatively secluded. Building hundreds of houses nearby could lead to significant disturbance of the woodland and its wildlife. The resulting huge increase in pets would result in problems. Cats are supreme predators which would take a toll on wildlife. Dogs would also disturb wildlife and their feces have been shown to cause nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/07/dog-pee-and-poo-harming-nature-reserves-study Flood Risk is Not a Hypothetical Surface water flooding is the biggest threat to homes in England today. Over 4.6 million homes are now at risk from it. That’s double the number at risk from rivers or coastal surge. In Frodsham, those risks already exist. Hob Hey Wood and the green land around it act as a sponge. They slow rain and reduce flood peaks. Building on FR002 and FR001 means water runs off faster, overloading drains and pushing into homes and roads. The council’s own Flood Risk Assessment warns against removing these natural barriers. From the late 1990’s to 2005 this happened in Langdale Way! Residents experienced multiple sewerage floods leading to a campaign involving both the council and United Utilities to resolve the issue before the houses became uninsurable. This resulted in a year long disruptive excavation at Manor House School fields to install huge tanks to stem the catastrophic floods. UU stated that this was the only site that that type of construction could take place. House building adjacent could result in these issues arising again! Source: Cheshire West SFRA – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/parking-roads-and-travel/highways/flood-risk-assessment-final-report.pdf Source: Financial Times – https://www.ft.com/content/ff3bb769-9339-4015-80bc-4a3ea446504e

Comment

Representation ID: 656

Received: 01/08/2025

Respondent: Julie OSullivan

SS42
I&O_739
Yes, don’t build on FRO01 and FRO02. This is not a polite suggestion. It is a firm and direct objection to building on FR001 and FR002, two parcels of Greenbelt land that border Hob Hey Wood and form part of Frodsham’s only remaining rural buffer. This proposal is a textbook example of poor planning: it increases flood risk, overloads roads, strains local services, destroys wildlife routes, and rips up national policy. If approved, it will damage the town and everyone in it. Objections in detail Severe Impact on Ancient Woodland Hob Hey is a Site of Biological Interest and ancient woodland, Britain’s most biodiverse habitat. The wood is home to thousands of species varying from common, to locally scarce, to nationally rare. Over 800 species are listed on the national biological recording site iRecord. Many species only occur in ancient woodland, an increasingly rare habitat. The wood is a haven for both wildlife and local people who enjoy walking the woodland and reaping the benefits of being in nature such as reduced anxiety and depression. Improvements to the immune system and reduced blood pressure also result from time spent in nature. Source: Nature and Mental Health Report’, Mind. Source: (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9665958/). Wildlife Corridors Will Be Destroyed Hob Hey Wood is not a decorative patch of trees. It is a functioning woodland used by many species that need access to the surrounding environment. The wood connects to wider habitat corridors through the FR001 and FR002 areas. These corridors keep the ecology alive. Building here breaks those links forever. You can’t replace a hedgerow or regenerate a breeding ground once it’s buried under concrete. Source: Planning Inspectorate – https://nsip-documents.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/published-documents/EN010153-000069-6.1_ES%20Vol%201%20Chapter%207%20Terrestrial%20Ecology.pdf Significant Disturbance to The Woodland Hob Hey is relatively secluded. Building hundreds of houses nearby could lead to significant disturbance of the woodland and its wildlife. The resulting huge increase in pets would result in problems. Cats are supreme predators which would take a toll on wildlife. Dogs would also disturb wildlife and their feces have been shown to cause nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/07/dog-pee-and-poo-harming-nature-reserves-study Flood Risk is Not a Hypothetical Surface water flooding is the biggest threat to homes in England today. Over 4.6 million homes are now at risk from it. That’s double the number at risk from rivers or coastal surge. In Frodsham, those risks already exist. Hob Hey Wood and the green land around it act as a sponge. They slow rain and reduce flood peaks. Building on FR002 and FR001 means water runs off faster, overloading drains and pushing into homes and roads. The council’s own Flood Risk Assessment warns against removing these natural barriers. From the late 1990’s to 2005 this happened in Langdale Way! Residents experienced multiple sewerage floods leading to a campaign involving both the council and United Utilities to resolve the issue before the houses became uninsurable. This resulted in a year long disruptive excavation at Manor House School fields to install huge tanks to stem the catastrophic floods. UU stated that this was the only site that that type of construction could take place. House building adjacent could result in these issues arising again! Source: Cheshire West SFRA – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/parking-roads-and-travel/highways/flood-risk-assessment-final-report.pdf Source: Financial Times – https://www.ft.com/content/ff3bb769-9339-4015-80bc-4a3ea446504e

Comment

Representation ID: 697

Received: 01/08/2025

Respondent: Tim Balchin

I&O_784
This Development Must Not Go Ahead This is not a polite suggestion. It is a firm and direct objection to building on FR001 and FR002, two parcels of Greenbelt land that border Hob Hey Wood and form part of Frodsham’s only remaining rural buffer. This proposal is a textbook example of poor planning: it increases flood risk, overloads roads, strains local services, destroys wildlife routes, and rips up national policy. If approved, it will damage the town and everyone in it. 2. Traffic is Already Broken The A56 and main roads through Frodsham are regularly gridlocked. When the M56 is closed or partially shut, all diverted traffic comes through the town. The Weaver Viaduct carries over 112,000 vehicles daily. That number spikes during roadworks, collisions, or closures. None of this is future risk. It's already happening. Add hundreds of extra vehicles from FR001 and FR002 and the problem gets worse. Emergency vehicles already struggle to get through. This development will slow response times even more, putting lives at risk. The Lakes Estate has only two access and exit roads, one of which is almost permanently single lane due to residents parking, and the other already regularly clogs up during rush hours. When there are issues with the M56 or other main roads in Frodsham, traffic regularly diverts through the estate at speed, causing even more congestion and risk of accidents. The standard of road maintenance on all toads throughout the Lakes estate is already poor and substandard before any additional traffic from further development. Source: Hansard (UK Parliament), 2015 – https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2015-11-17/debates/15111754000002/M56(Junctions12To14) 3. Severe Impact on Ancient Woodland Hob Hey is a Site of Biological Interest and ancient woodland, Britain’s most biodiverse habitat. The wood is home to thousands of species varying from common, to locally scarce, to nationally rare. Over 800 species are listed on the national biological recording site iRecord. Many species only occur in ancient woodland, an increasingly rare habitat. The wood is a haven for both wildlife and local people who enjoy walking the woodland and reaping the benefits of being in nature such as reduced anxiety and depression. Improvements to the immune system and reduced blood pressure also result from time spent in nature. Source: Nature and Mental Health Report’, Mind. Source: (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9665958/). 4. Wildlife Corridors Will Be Destroyed Hob Hey Wood is not a decorative patch of trees. It is a functioning woodland used by many species that need access to the surrounding environment. The wood connects to wider habitat corridors through the FR001 and FR002 areas. These corridors keep the ecology alive. Building here breaks those links forever. You can’t replace a hedgerow or regenerate a breeding ground once it’s buried under concrete. Source: Planning Inspectorate – https://nsip-documents.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/published-documents/EN010153-000069-6.1_ES%20Vol%201%20Chapter%207%20Terrestrial%20Ecology.pdf 5. Significant Disturbance to The Woodland Hob Hey is relatively secluded. Building hundreds of houses nearby could lead to significant disturbance of the woodland and its wildlife. The resulting huge increase in pets would result in problems. Cats are supreme predators which would take a toll on wildlife. Dogs would also disturb wildlife and their faeces have been shown to cause nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. There are further risks of fly tipping, vandalism, and unsustainable erosion to the natural habitats and biodiversity. Source:  6. Flood Risk is Not a Hypothetical Surface water flooding is the biggest threat to homes in England today. Over 4.6 million homes are now at risk from it. That’s double the number at risk from rivers or coastal surge. In Frodsham, those risks already exist. Hob Hey Wood and the green land around it act as a sponge. They slow rain and reduce flood peaks. Building on FR002 and FR001 means water runs off faster, overloading drains and pushing into homes and roads. The council’s own Flood Risk Assessment warns against removing these natural barriers. From the late 1990’s to 2005 this happened in Langdale Way! Residents experienced multiple sewerage floods leading to a campaign involving both the council and United Utilities to resolve the issue before the houses became uninsurable. This resulted in a year long disruptive excavation at Manor House School fields to install huge tanks to stem the catastrophic floods. UU stated that this was the only site that that type of construction could take place. House building adjacent could result in these issues arising again! Source: Cheshire West SFRA – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/parking-roads-and-travel/highways/flood-risk-assessment-final-report.pdf Source: Financial Times – https://www.ft.com/content/ff3bb769-9339-4015-80bc-4a3ea446504e 7. GP Practices and Schools Are Full There is no spare capacity in Frodsham’s infrastructure. GP practices are running at limit. Dentists are full, Care Homes are full, Schools are close to capacity. New homes mean more pressure, more waiting, more stretched services. No part of this development includes concrete plans or funding for new public services. That means the burden falls on existing ones, which are already struggling. The absence of local amenities and infrastructure will mean that car journeys will inevitably increase with the consequent congestion, pollution, noise, and accident risk. Source: Cheshire West Monitoring Reports – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/planning-and-building-control/local-plan/authority-monitoring-report 8. Air Quality and Light Pollution Will Get Worse Frodsham is already inside an Air Quality Management Area. Cars are the top local pollutant. FR001 and FR002 would bring more cars, more exhaust, and more noise into a space that’s supposed to be protected. Air quality is already sub-standard due to the proximity of chemical works and oil refineries at Runcorn and Ellesmere Port. Lighting from new housing, cars and street lamps will spill into Hob Hey Wood and rural zones. This ruins habitat for nocturnal species and affects human sleep cycles. Light pollution has a detrimental effect on bats. There are seven species present in Hob Hey Wood including rare Nathusius’ pipistrelle. Moths are also affected by light pollution. Source: Cheshire West AQMA Action Plan – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/pests-pollution-food-safety/pollution-and-air-quality/air-quality-review-and-assessment/action-plans/action-plan-frodsham-0118.pdf Source: Bat Conservation Trust Guidance NoteGN08/23Bats and Artificial Lighting At Night. Source: Impact of light pollution on moth morphology–A 137-year study in Germany https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2021.05.004). Antisocial Behaviour and Isolation Will Rise New estates without integrated planning lead to social fragmentation. These areas become disconnected, under-policed, and under-supported. This isn’t speculation. It’s known from other developments nationally. The National Planning Policy Framework requires that growth supports community cohesion. This proposal does not. It isolates new homes on the edge of town and dumps responsibility for cohesion onto already stretched services. Source: NPPF (2023) – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework--2 10. House Prices Will Drop People buy in Frodsham for access to open countryside, peace, and green views. Strip those away, and the value drops. This development removes the very features that give existing homes their worth. Homeowners who’ve invested in the area will be hit with lower resale values and a loss of the rural edge they were sold on. Developers walk away with profit. Residents are left picking up the cost. 11. Greenbelt Is Not A Technicality The Greenbelt is there for a reason. Once you breach it, you set precedent for more erosion. This is not just about FRO01 or FRO02. It’s about what follows next if this goes ahead. National guidance is clear: development on Greenbelt land must be avoided unless there are absolutely no alternatives. In this case, there are alternatives. This land should remain untouched. Source: GOV.UK Greenbelt Guidance – ttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-planning-policy-framework/13-protecting-green-belt-land 12. Final Statement – Reject This Now This proposal is bad planning. It adds pressure to failing infrastructure. It increases flood risk. It destroys wildlife corridors. It worsens air quality. It lowers property values. It puts lives at risk. It benefits developers and damages communities. This is not sustainable. It is not justified. It is not acceptable. FRO01 and FRO02 must be removed from development plans entirely. This objection demands that the proposal be rejected in full. Nothing else will do.

Comment

Representation ID: 726

Received: 31/07/2025

Respondent: Rebecca & Philip Palmer & Pattison

I&O_824
Cheshire West and Chester council highlighted many green belt areas to build houses on to meet their housebuilding targets. One of these is the area between the Lakes Estate and Bradley, encompassing Hob Hey Wood. This is causing great concern to local residents.   Maps of proposed development:     https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%2Fdocuments%2Fs91474%2FAppendix&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7C368b9ca4a8b340e5989008ddd070aea3%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638895904747587254%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C80000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ncL8XA9sqbGFTXX562H36JoU3HJdcih65NxyFdKvZFA%3D&reserved=0     This Development Must Not Go Ahead   This is not a polite suggestion. It is a firm and direct objection to building on FR001 and FR002, two parcels of Greenbelt land that border Hob Hey Wood and form part of Frodsham’s only remaining rural buffer. This proposal is a textbook example of poor planning: it increases flood risk, overloads roads, strains local services, destroys wildlife routes, and rips up national policy. If approved, it will damage the town and everyone in it.   Traffic is Already Broken   The A56 and main roads through Frodsham are regularly gridlocked. When the M56 is closed or partially shut, all diverted traffic comes through the town. The Weaver Viaduct carries over 112,000 vehicles daily. That number spikes during roadworks, collisions, or closures. None of this is future risk. It's already happening.   Add hundreds of extra vehicles from FR001 and FR002 and the problem gets worse. Emergency vehicles already struggle to get through. This development will slow response times even more, putting lives at risk.   Source: Hansard (UK Parliament), 2015 – https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhansard.parliament.uk%2FCommons%2F2015-11-17%2Fdebates%2F15111754000002%2FM56&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7C368b9ca4a8b340e5989008ddd070aea3%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638895904747609928%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C80000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=DGSdTETwgJE%2F8uUc1o0KfX5McZHNZi%2BLc4aF3I%2FxdQY%3D&reserved=0(Junctions12To14)   Severe Impact on Ancient Woodland   Hob Hey is a Site of Biological Interest and ancient woodland, Britain’s most biodiverse habitat.   The wood is home to thousands of species varying from common, to locally scarce, to nationally rare. Over 800 species are listed on the national biological recording site iRecord. Many species only occur in ancient woodland, an increasingly rare habitat.   The wood is a haven for both wildlife and local people who enjoy walking the woodland and reaping the benefits of being in nature such as reduced anxiety and depression. Improvements to the immune system and reduced blood pressure also result from time spent in nature.   Source: Nature and Mental Health Report’, Mind.   Source: ( https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Farticles%2FPMC9665958%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7C368b9ca4a8b340e5989008ddd070aea3%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638895904747623693%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C80000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=KJiP7kwAGgpEqP6%2FoMUvEqWdN1ttRZ8cS%2FKswEcSNf0%3D&reserved=0 ).   Wildlife Corridors Will Be Destroyed   Hob Hey Wood is not a decorative patch of trees. It is a functioning woodland used by many species that need access to the surrounding environment. The wood connects to wider habitat corridors through the FR001 and FR002 areas. These corridors keep the ecology alive.   Building here breaks those links forever. You can’t replace a hedgerow or regenerate a breeding ground once it’s buried under concrete.   Source: Planning Inspectorate – https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnsip-documents.planninginspectorate.gov.uk%2Fpublished-documents%2FEN010153-000069-6.1_ES%2520Vol%25201%2520Chapter%25207%2520Terrestrial%2520Ecology.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7C368b9ca4a8b340e5989008ddd070aea3%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638895904747636838%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C80000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6pfxaaVpAZL3E6GLxvPnoz1MQ8m0XLGxPB42LBxANRw%3D&reserved=0   Significant Disturbance to The Woodland   Hob Hey is relatively secluded. Building hundreds of houses nearby could lead to significant disturbance of the woodland and its wildlife. The resulting huge increase in pets would result in problems. Cats are supreme predators which would take a toll on wildlife. Dogs would also disturb wildlife and their feces have been shown to cause nitrogen and phosphorus pollution.   Source: https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fenvironment%2F2022%2Ffeb%2F07%2Fdog-pee-and-poo-harming-nature-reserves-study&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7C368b9ca4a8b340e5989008ddd070aea3%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638895904747651126%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C80000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kZxllgNQA1PvkcTPxUWEC4RHFEylyIOnvyMcoRRLw2g%3D&reserved=0   Flood Risk is Not a Hypothetical   Surface water flooding is the biggest threat to homes in England today. Over 4.6 million homes are now at risk from it. That’s double the number at risk from rivers or coastal surge. In Frodsham, those risks already exist. Hob Hey Wood and the green land around it act as a sponge. They slow rain and reduce flood peaks.   Building on FR002 and FR001 means water runs off faster, overloading drains and pushing into homes and roads. The council’s own Flood Risk Assessment warns against removing these natural barriers.   From the late 1990’s to 2005 this happened in Langdale Way! Residents experienced multiple sewerage floods leading to a campaign involving both the council and United Utilities to resolve the issue before the houses became uninsurable. This resulted in a year long disruptive excavation at Manor House School fields to install huge tanks to stem the catastrophic floods. UU stated that this was the only site that that type of construction could take place.   House building adjacent could result in these issues arising again!   Source: Cheshire West SFRA – https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%2Fdocuments%2Fparking-roads-and-travel%2Fhighways%2Fflood-risk-assessment-final-report.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7C368b9ca4a8b340e5989008ddd070aea3%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638895904747667079%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C80000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=htUwEg59qWOX8actXa0v43OpTdjOogeG%2FSZL3P0fe3o%3D&reserved=0   Source: Financial Times – https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcontent%2Fff3bb769-9339-4015-80bc-4a3ea446504e&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7C368b9ca4a8b340e5989008ddd070aea3%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638895904747681037%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C80000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=w9zbmOAVYkcjuvRpTZrhuexPO4rClIG0NmqWGNZ0Bvw%3D&reserved=0   GP Practices and Schools Are Full   There is no spare capacity in Frodsham’s infrastructure. GP practices are running at limit. Schools are close to capacity. New homes mean more pressure, more waiting, more stretched services.   No part of this development includes concrete plans or funding for new public services. That means the burden falls on existing ones, which are already struggling.   Source: Cheshire West Monitoring Reports – https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%2Fresidents%2Fplanning-and-building-control%2Flocal-plan%2Fauthority-monitoring-report&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7C368b9ca4a8b340e5989008ddd070aea3%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638895904747694585%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C80000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=LHizebTPIrmx5Yb3kshYbSOL1Fs3yG7bml1Hqa8zkNQ%3D&reserved=0   Air Quality and Light Pollution Will Get Worse   Frodsham is already inside an Air Quality Management Area. Cars are the top local pollutant. FR001 and FR002 would bring more cars, more exhaust, and more noise into a space that’s supposed to be protected.   Lighting from new housing, cars and street lamps will spill into Hob Hey Wood and rural zones. This ruins habitat for nocturnal species and affects human sleep cycles.   Light pollution has a detrimental effect on bats. There are seven species present in Hob Hey Wood including rare Nathusius’ pipistrelle. Moths are also affected by light pollution.   Source: Cheshire West AQMA Action Plan – https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%2Fdocuments%2Fpests-pollution-food-safety%2Fpollution-and-air-quality%2Fair-quality-review-and-assessment%2Faction-plans%2Faction-plan-frodsham-0118.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7C368b9ca4a8b340e5989008ddd070aea3%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638895904747708799%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C80000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=OlEPCjSXIsiayD5OYZYk74powvnP7i4CCvzx1sbuEhQ%3D&reserved=0   Source: Bat Conservation Trust Guidance NoteGN08/23Bats and Artificial Lighting At Night.   Source: Impact of light pollution on moth morphology–A 137-year study in Germany https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.1016%2Fj.baae.2021.05.004&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7C368b9ca4a8b340e5989008ddd070aea3%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638895904747722608%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C80000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=NC5Bd5h5JExLvwMwsGhmZU%2BjHOPaeB4pSqs%2FUP88A1o%3D&reserved=0 ).       Antisocial Behaviour and Isolation Will Rise   New estates without integrated planning lead to social fragmentation. These areas become disconnected, under-policed, and under-supported. This isn’t speculation. It’s known from other developments nationally.   The National Planning Policy Framework requires that growth supports community cohesion. This proposal does not. It isolates new homes on the edge of town and dumps responsibility for cohesion onto already stretched services.   Source: NPPF (2023) – https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fnational-planning-policy-framework--2&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7C368b9ca4a8b340e5989008ddd070aea3%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638895904747735575%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C80000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6D%2FHZIuPw0Jy7IRSdgtLeLHP2NU7Vi0Tko8UN7kbH4Y%3D&reserved=0   House Prices Will Drop   People buy in Frodsham for access to open countryside, peace, and green views. Strip those away, and the value drops. This development removes the very features that give existing homes their worth.   Homeowners who’ve invested in the area will be hit with lower resale values and a loss of the rural edge they were sold on. Developers walk away with profit. Residents are left picking up the cost.   Greenbelt Is Not A Technicality   The Greenbelt is there for a reason. Once you breach it, you set precedent for more erosion. This is not just about FRO01 or FRO02. It’s about what follows next if this goes ahead.   National guidance is clear: development on Greenbelt land must be avoided unless there are absolutely no alternatives. In this case, there are alternatives. This land should remain untouched.   Source: GOV.UK Greenbelt Guidance –   ttps://https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Fnational-planning-policy-framework%2F13-protecting-green-belt-land&data=05%7C02%7Cspatialplanning%40cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk%7C368b9ca4a8b340e5989008ddd070aea3%7C9cd0230785364d0abe00c4062a2326a2%7C0%7C0%7C638895904747748952%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C80000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=xJ6EfJrSST9%2FWMaR83weQF39p5Lj2rnrKA7a2efkGdg%3D&reserved=0   Final Statement – Reject This Now   This proposal is bad planning. It adds pressure to failing infrastructure. It increases flood risk. It destroys wildlife corridors. It worsens air quality. It lowers property values. It puts lives at risk. It benefits developers and damages communities.   This is not sustainable. It is not justified. It is not acceptable.   FRO01 and FRO02 must be removed from development plans entirely. This objection demands that the proposal be rejected in full. Nothing else will do.  

Comment

Representation ID: 728

Received: 01/08/2025

Respondent: Shelley Walker

I&O_826
I prefer FR003 for future housebuilding. There are important natural resources in the other two areas. The most important of these being Hob Hey wood which is a unique ancient woodland area, packed with life, and serving as an important SSI and wildlife corridor. This would be directly impacted by the development of the other 2 areas. There are other concerns about such a large development of housing. Schools, doctors and dentists and local hospitals are already over subscribed. Roads are packed There is no mention of how that would be addtessed. There is increased risk of flooding once all land is built on...which has been a problem in Langdale road in the past.

Comment

Representation ID: 792

Received: 05/08/2025

Respondent: Mike Carberry

I&O_896
1. This Development Must Not Go Ahead   This is not a polite suggestion. It is a firm and direct objection to building on FR001 and FR002, two parcels of Greenbelt land that border Hob Hey Wood and form part of Frodsham’s only remaining rural buffer. This proposal is a textbook example of poor planning: it increases flood risk, overloads roads, strains local services, destroys wildlife routes, and rips up national policy. If approved, it will damage the town and everyone in it.   2. Traffic is Already Broken   The A56 and main roads through Frodsham are regularly gridlocked. When the M56 is closed or partially shut, all diverted traffic comes through the town. The Weaver Viaduct carries over 112,000 vehicles daily. That number spikes during roadworks, collisions, or closures. None of this is future risk. It's already happening.   Add hundreds of extra vehicles from FR001 and FR002 and the problem gets worse. Emergency vehicles already struggle to get through. This development will slow response times even more, putting lives at risk.   Source: Hansard (UK Parliament), 2015 –  https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2015-11-17/debates/15111754000002/M56(Junctions12To14)   3. Severe Impact on Ancient Woodland   Hob Hey is a Site of Biological Interest and ancient woodland, Britain’s most biodiverse habitat.   The wood is home to thousands of species varying from common, to locally scarce, to nationally rare. Over 800 species are listed on the national biological recording site iRecord. Many species only occur in ancient woodland, an increasingly rare habitat.   The wood is a haven for both wildlife and local people who enjoy walking the woodland and reaping the benefits of being in nature such as reduced anxiety and depression. Improvements to the immune system and reduced blood pressure also result from time spent in nature.   Source: Nature and Mental Health Report’, Mind.   Source: ( https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9665958/ ).   4. Wildlife Corridors Will Be Destroyed   Hob Hey Wood is not a decorative patch of trees. It is a functioning woodland used by many species that need access to the surrounding environment. The wood connects to wider habitat corridors through the FR001 and FR002 areas. These corridors keep the ecology alive.   Building here breaks those links forever. You can’t replace a hedgerow or regenerate a breeding ground once it’s buried under concrete.   Source: Planning Inspectorate –  https://nsip-documents.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/published-documents/EN010153-000069-6.1_ES%20Vol%201%20Chapter%207%20Terrestrial%20Ecology.pdf   5. Significant Disturbance to The Woodland   Hob Hey is relatively secluded. Building hundreds of houses nearby could lead to significant disturbance of the woodland and its wildlife. The resulting huge increase in pets would result in problems. Cats are supreme predators which would take a toll on wildlife. Dogs would also disturb wildlife and their feces have been shown to cause nitrogen and phosphorus pollution.   Source:  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/07/dog-pee-and-poo-harming-nature-reserves-study   6. Flood Risk is Not a Hypothetical   Surface water flooding is the biggest threat to homes in England today. Over 4.6 million homes are now at risk from it. That’s double the number at risk from rivers or coastal surge. In Frodsham, those risks already exist. Hob Hey Wood and the green land around it act as a sponge. They slow rain and reduce flood peaks.   Building on FR002 and FR001 means water runs off faster, overloading drains and pushing into homes and roads. The council’s own Flood Risk Assessment warns against removing these natural barriers.   From the late 1990’s to 2005 this happened in Langdale Way! Residents experienced multiple sewerage floods leading to a campaign involving both the council and United Utilities to resolve the issue before the houses became uninsurable. This resulted in a year long disruptive excavation at Manor House School fields to install huge tanks to stem the catastrophic floods. UU stated that this was the only site that that type of construction could take place.   House building adjacent could result in these issues arising again!   Source: Cheshire West SFRA –  https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/parking-roads-and-travel/highways/flood-risk-assessment-final-report.pdf   Source: Financial Times –  https://www.ft.com/content/ff3bb769-9339-4015-80bc-4a3ea446504e   7. GP Practices and Schools Are Full   There is no spare capacity in Frodsham’s infrastructure. GP practices are running at limit. Schools are close to capacity. New homes mean more pressure, more waiting, more stretched services.   No part of this development includes concrete plans or funding for new public services. That means the burden falls on existing ones, which are already struggling.   Source: Cheshire West Monitoring Reports –  https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/planning-and-building-control/local-plan/authority-monitoring-report   8. Air Quality and Light Pollution Will Get Worse   Frodsham is already inside an Air Quality Management Area. Cars are the top local pollutant. FR001 and FR002 would bring more cars, more exhaust, and more noise into a space that’s supposed to be protected.   Lighting from new housing, cars and street lamps will spill into Hob Hey Wood and rural zones. This ruins habitat for nocturnal species and affects human sleep cycles.   Light pollution has a detrimental effect on bats. There are seven species present in Hob Hey Wood including rare Nathusius’ pipistrelle. Moths are also affected by light pollution.   Source: Cheshire West AQMA Action Plan –  https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/pests-pollution-food-safety/pollution-and-air-quality/air-quality-review-and-assessment/action-plans/action-plan-frodsham-0118.pdf   Source: Bat Conservation Trust Guidance NoteGN08/23Bats and Artificial Lighting At Night.   Source: Impact of light pollution on moth morphology–A 137-year study in Germany  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2021.05.004 ).       9. Antisocial Behaviour and Isolation Will Rise   New estates without integrated planning lead to social fragmentation. These areas become disconnected, under-policed, and under-supported. This isn’t speculation. It’s known from other developments nationally.   The National Planning Policy Framework requires that growth supports community cohesion. This proposal does not. It isolates new homes on the edge of town and dumps responsibility for cohesion onto already stretched services.   Source: NPPF (2023) –  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework--2   10. House Prices Will Drop   People buy in Frodsham for access to open countryside, peace, and green views. Strip those away, and the value drops. This development removes the very features that give existing homes their worth.   Homeowners who’ve invested in the area will be hit with lower resale values and a loss of the rural edge they were sold on. Developers walk away with profit. Residents are left picking up the cost.   11. Greenbelt Is Not A Technicality   The Greenbelt is there for a reason. Once you breach it, you set precedent for more erosion. This is not just about FRO01 or FRO02. It’s about what follows next if this goes ahead.   National guidance is clear: development on Greenbelt land must be avoided unless there are absolutely no alternatives. In this case, there are alternatives. This land should remain untouched.   Source: GOV.UK Greenbelt Guidance –   ttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-planning-policy-framework/13-protecting-green-belt-land   12. Final Statement – Reject This Now   This proposal is bad planning. It adds pressure to failing infrastructure. It increases flood risk. It destroys wildlife corridors. It worsens air quality. It lowers property values. It puts lives at risk. It benefits developers and damages communities.   This is not sustainable. It is not justified. It is not acceptable.   FRO01 and FRO02 must be removed from development plans entirely. This objection demands that the proposal be rejected in full. Nothing else will do.  

Comment

Representation ID: 877

Received: 31/07/2025

Respondent: Christine Reeves

I&O_981
I am a resident of Frodsham and know the Townfield Lane area well, FR01 on your plan. I would object strongly to any plans to build houses on these fields. These are areas of greenbelt. The only feasible access road is Langdale Way. This is already a one way road during the day given the volume of traffic which parks on the pavement on either side of the road surrounding the shops at the Fluin Lane end of Langdale Way. In addition it is home to a primary school (The Manor) and from 8.30-9.00am and 3.00-3.30pm access along Langdale Way is restricted due to parents delivering and collecting children.

Comment

Representation ID: 991

Received: 06/08/2025

Respondent: Janine Campbell

I&O_1095
I appreciate the need for the borough to accommodate housing growth , but I remain unconvinced that any of the potential growth areas identified around Frodsham are appropriate or sustainable. Frodsham is already under pressure from: Congested road infrastructure , particularly during incidents on the M56, which redirect traffic through the town; Overstretched GP and school capacity , with no firm commitments for investment in new services; Flood risk , particularly from surface water runoff, which has historically caused significant problems in areas like Langdale Way. Sites FR001 and FR002 , in particular, raise serious concerns due to their: Green Belt status , which protects the town’s rural character and prevents urban sprawl; Ecological sensitivity , being directly adjacent to Hob Hey Wood — an important wildlife habitat and natural flood buffer; Recreational value for residents, as well as their role in supporting biodiversity and reducing carbon impact. While FR003 may be marginally less environmentally sensitive , it is still Green Belt land and, like the others, is not supported by any meaningful infrastructure commitments or evidence of genuine local need. Frodsham has already taken its fair share of development through previously allocated sites. The focus should now be on maximising brownfield and urban infill opportunities elsewhere in the borough , where infrastructure is more robust and sustainable transport links are more viable. I strongly urge the Council to protect the remaining Green Belt and natural assets around Frodsham and to ensure that any housing growth is truly sustainable, supported by infrastructure, and consistent with the objectives of the Frodsham Neighbourhood Plan .

Comment

Representation ID: 1076

Received: 06/08/2025

Respondent: Hannah Horton

I&O_1181
The reasons why these growth area sites are unsuitable are as follows: Traffic infrastructure is already broken The A56 and main roads through Frodsham are regularly gridlocked. As the official relief route for the frequently closed stretch of the M56 between Junctions 14 and 12, but with height restricted bridges, Frodsham frequently experiences huge influxes of traffic. The Weaver Viaduct already carries 112,000 vehicles daily. This spikes during roadworks, collisions or closures on the motorway. This is not a theoretical future risk - it's already happening. As hundreds or even thousands of extra vehicles from FR001, FR002 and FR003 join these numbers, these problems will only get worse. Emergency vehicles already strugg;e to get through. These developments would further slow response times, putting lives at risk. Source: Hansard (UK Parliament), 2015 – https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2015-11-17/debates/15111754000002/M56(Junctions12To14) ⁠Severe Impact on Ancient Woodland Hob Hey Wood (included in FR001 and FR002) is a Site of Biological Interest and ancient woodland, Britain’s most biodiverse habitat. The wood is home to thousands of species varying from common, to locally scarce, to nationally rare. Over 800 species are listed on the national biological recording site iRecord. Many species only occur in ancient woodland, an increasingly rare habitat. The wood is a haven for both wildlife and local people who enjoy walking the woodland and reaping the benefits of being in nature such as reduced anxiety and depression. Improvements to the immune system and reduced blood pressure also result from time spent in nature. Source: Nature and Mental Health Report, Mind https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9665958/ Established flood risk This is not a hypothetical. Surface water flooding is the biggest threat to homes in England today. Over 4.6 million homes are now at risk from it. That’s double the number at risk from rivers or coastal surge. In Frodsham, those risks already exist. Hob Hey Wood and the green land around it act as a sponge. They slow rain and reduce flood peaks. Building on FR002 and FR001 means water runs off faster, overloading drains and pushing into homes and roads. The council’s own Flood Risk Assessment warns against removing these natural barriers. From the late 1990s to 2005 this happened in Langdale Way, which adjoins this proposed development area. Residents experienced multiple sewerage floods leading to a campaign involving both the council and United Utilities to resolve the issue before the houses became uninsurable. This resulted in a year long disruptive excavation at Manor House School fields to install huge tanks to stem the catastrophic floods. UU stated that this was the only site that where type of construction could take place. Further developing sites FR001 and FR002 would bring these past issues back into the present. Source: Cheshire West SFRA – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/parking-roads-and-travel/highways/flood-risk-assessment-final-report.pdf   Source: Financial Times – https://www.ft.com/content/ff3bb769-9339-4015-80bc-4a3ea446504e Air quality already recognised as an issue in this area Frodsham is already inside an Air Quality Management Area. Cars are the top local pollutant. FR001 and FR002 would bring more cars, more exhaust, and more noise into a space that’s supposed to be protected. Lighting from new housing, cars and street lamps will spill into Hob Hey Wood and rural zones. This ruins habitat for nocturnal species and affects human sleep cycles. For example, l ight pollution has a detrimental effect on bats. There are 7 species present in Hob Hey Wood including rare Nathusius’ pipistrelle. Source: Cheshire West AQMA Action Plan – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/pests-pollution-food-safety/pollution-and-air-quality/air-quality-review-and-assessment/action-plans/action-plan-frodsham-0118.pdf Source: Bat Conservation Trust Guidance NoteGN08/23Bats and Artificial Lighting At Night. Source: Impact of light pollution on moth morphology–A 137-year study in Germany https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2021.05.004   Destruction of wildlife corridors Hob Hey Wood is not a decorative patch of trees. It is a functioning woodland used by many species that need access to the surrounding environment. The wood connects to wider habitat corridors through the FR001 and FR002 areas. These corridors keep the ecology alive. Building here breaks those links forever. You can’t replace a hedgerow or regenerate a breeding ground once it’s buried under concrete. Anti social behaviour and isolation risks It is well documented that new estates without integrated planning lead to social fragmentation. These areas become disconnected, under-policed, and under-supported.  The National Planning Policy Framework requires that growth supports community cohesion. This proposal directly contradicts the NPPF. It isolates new homes on the edge of town and dumps responsibility for cohesion onto already stretched services. Source: NPPF (2023) – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework--2   There are alternatives to building on greenbelt land National guidance is clear: development on Greenbelt land must be avoided unless there are absolutely no alternatives. In this case, there are alternatives - the town plan has already recognised several much more suitable sites for development. This land should remain untouched. Source: GOV.UK Greenbelt Guidance – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-planning-policy-framework/13-protecting-green-belt-land     

Comment

Representation ID: 1078

Received: 06/08/2025

Respondent: Laura Johnstone

SS 42
I&O_1183
To Cheshire West & Chester Council,   I am contacting you regarding the planning proposed in Frodsham, West Cheshire (FR001 & FR002)   This Development Must Not Go Ahead This is not a polite suggestion. It is a firm and direct objection to building on FR001 and FR002, two parcels of Greenbelt land that border Hob Hey Wood and form part of Frodsham’s only remaining rural buffer. This proposal is a textbook example of poor planning: it increases flood risk, overloads roads, strains local services, destroys wildlife routes, and rips up national policy. If approved, it will damage the town and everyone in it. 2. Traffic is Already Broken The A56 and main roads through Frodsham are regularly gridlocked. When the M56 is closed or partially shut, all diverted traffic comes through the town. The Weaver Viaduct carries over 112,000 vehicles daily. That number spikes during roadworks, collisions, or closures. None of this is future risk. It's already happening. Add hundreds of extra vehicles from FR001 and FR002 and the problem gets worse. Emergency vehicles already struggle to get through. This development will slow response times even more, putting lives at risk. Source: Hansard (UK Parliament), 2015 – https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2015-11-17/debates/15111754000002/M56(Junctions12To14) 3. Severe Impact on Ancient Woodland Hob Hey is a Site of Biological Interest and ancient woodland, Britain’s most biodiverse habitat. The wood is home to thousands of species varying from common, to locally scarce, to nationally rare. Over 800 species are listed on the national biological recording site iRecord. Many species only occur in ancient woodland, an increasingly rare habitat. The wood is a haven for both wildlife and local people who enjoy walking the woodland and reaping the benefits of being in nature such as reduced anxiety and depression. Improvements to the immune system and reduced blood pressure also result from time spent in nature. Source: Nature and Mental Health Report’, Mind. Source: ( https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9665958/ ). 4. Wildlife Corridors Will Be Destroyed Hob Hey Wood is not a decorative patch of trees. It is a functioning woodland used by many species that need access to the surrounding environment. The wood connects to wider habitat corridors through the FR001 and FR002 areas. These corridors keep the ecology alive. Building here breaks those links forever. You can’t replace a hedgerow or regenerate a breeding ground once it’s buried under concrete. Source: Planning Inspectorate – https://nsip-documents.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/published-documents/EN010153-000069-6.1_ES%20Vol%201%20Chapter%207%20Terrestrial%20Ecology.pdf 5. Significant Disturbance to The Woodland Hob Hey is relatively secluded. Building hundreds of houses nearby could lead to significant disturbance of the woodland and its wildlife. The resulting huge increase in pets would result in problems. Cats are supreme predators which would take a toll on wildlife. Dogs would also disturb wildlife and their feces have been shown to cause nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. Source: https://www.theguardian.com/.../dog-pee-and-poo-harming... 6. Flood Risk is Not a Hypothetical Surface water flooding is the biggest threat to homes in England today. Over 4.6 million homes are now at risk from it. That’s double the number at risk from rivers or coastal surge. In Frodsham, those risks already exist. Hob Hey Wood and the green land around it act as a sponge. They slow rain and reduce flood peaks. Building on FR002 and FR001 means water runs off faster, overloading drains and pushing into homes and roads. The council’s own Flood Risk Assessment warns against removing these natural barriers. From the late 1990’s to 2005 this happened in Langdale Way! Residents experienced multiple sewerage floods leading to a campaign involving both the council and United Utilities to resolve the issue before the houses became uninsurable. This resulted in a year long disruptive excavation at Manor House School fields to install huge tanks to stem the catastrophic floods. UU stated that this was the only site that that type of construction could take place. House building adjacent could result in these issues arising again! Source: Cheshire West SFRA – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/parking-roads-and-travel/highways/flood-risk-assessment-final-report.pdf Source: Financial Times – https://www.ft.com/content/ff3bb769-9339-4015-80bc-4a3ea446504e 7. GP Practices and Schools Are Full There is no spare capacity in Frodsham’s infrastructure. GP practices are running at limit. Schools are close to capacity. New homes mean more pressure, more waiting, more stretched services. No part of this development includes concrete plans or funding for new public services. That means the burden falls on existing ones, which are already struggling. Source: Cheshire West Monitoring Reports – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/planning-and-building-control/local-plan/authority-monitoring-report 8. Air Quality and Light Pollution Will Get Worse Frodsham is already inside an Air Quality Management Area. Cars are the top local pollutant. FR001 and FR002 would bring more cars, more exhaust, and more noise into a space that’s supposed to be protected. Lighting from new housing, cars and street lamps will spill into Hob Hey Wood and rural zones. This ruins habitat for nocturnal species and affects human sleep cycles. Light pollution has a detrimental effect on bats. There are seven species present in Hob Hey Wood including rare Nathusius’ pipistrelle. Moths are also affected by light pollution. Source: Cheshire West AQMA Action Plan – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/pests-pollution-food-safety/pollution-and-air-quality/air-quality-review-and-assessment/action-plans/action-plan-frodsham-0118.pdf Source: Bat Conservation Trust Guidance NoteGN08/23Bats and Artificial Lighting At Night. Source: Impact of light pollution on moth morphology–A 137-year study in Germany https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2021.05.004 ). Antisocial Behaviour and Isolation Will Rise New estates without integrated planning lead to social fragmentation. These areas become disconnected, under-policed, and under-supported. This isn’t speculation. It’s known from other developments nationally. The National Planning Policy Framework requires that growth supports community cohesion. This proposal does not. It isolates new homes on the edge of town and dumps responsibility for cohesion onto already stretched services. Source: NPPF (2023) – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework--2 10. House Prices Will Drop People buy in Frodsham for access to open countryside, peace, and green views. Strip those away, and the value drops. This development removes the very features that give existing homes their worth. Homeowners who’ve invested in the area will be hit with lower resale values and a loss of the rural edge they were sold on. Developers walk away with profit. Residents are left picking up the cost. 11. Greenbelt Is Not A Technicality The Greenbelt is there for a reason. Once you breach it, you set precedent for more erosion. This is not just about FRO01 or FRO02. It’s about what follows next if this goes ahead. National guidance is clear: development on Greenbelt land must be avoided unless there are absolutely no alternatives. In this case, there are alternatives. This land should remain untouched. Source: GOV.UK Greenbelt Guidance – ttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-planning-policy-framework/13-protecting-green-belt-land 12. Final Statement – Reject This Now This proposal is bad planning. It adds pressure to failing infrastructure. It increases flood risk. It destroys wildlife corridors. It worsens air quality. It lowers property values. It puts lives at risk. It benefits developers and damages communities. This is not sustainable. It is not justified. It is not acceptable. FRO01 and FRO02 must be removed from development plans entirely. This objection demands that the proposal be rejected in full. Nothing else will do.       Regards   Laura Johnstone  Frodsham resident 

Comment

Representation ID: 1182

Received: 06/08/2025

Respondent: Susan Cooke

I&O_1287
1. This Development Must Not Go Ahead This is not a polite suggestion. It is a firm and direct objection to building on FR001 and FR002, two parcels of Greenbelt land that border Hob Hey Wood and form part of Frodsham’s only remaining rural buffer. This proposal is a textbook example of poor planning: it increases flood risk, overloads roads, strains local services, destroys wildlife routes, and rips up national policy. If approved, it will damage the town and everyone in it. 2. Traffic is Already Broken The A56 and main roads through Frodsham are regularly gridlocked. When the M56 is closed or partially shut, all diverted traffic comes through the town. The Weaver Viaduct carries over 112,000 vehicles daily. That number spikes during roadworks, collisions, or closures. None of this is future risk. It's already happening. Add hundreds of extra vehicles from FR001 and FR002 and the problem gets worse. Emergency vehicles already struggle to get through. This development will slow response times even more, putting lives at risk. Source: Hansard (UK Parliament), 2015 – https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2015-11-17/debates/15111754000002/M56(Junctions12To14) 3. Severe Impact on Ancient Woodland Hob Hey is a Site of Biological Interest and ancient woodland, Britain’s most biodiverse habitat. The wood is home to thousands of species varying from common, to locally scarce, to nationally rare. Over 800 species are listed on the national biological recording site iRecord. Many species only occur in ancient woodland, an increasingly rare habitat. The wood is a haven for both wildlife and local people who enjoy walking the woodland and reaping the benefits of being in nature such as reduced anxiety and depression. Improvements to the immune system and reduced blood pressure also result from time spent in nature. Source: Nature and Mental Health Report’, Mind. Source: (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9665958/). 4. Wildlife Corridors Will Be Destroyed Hob Hey Wood is not a decorative patch of trees. It is a functioning woodland used by many species that need access to the surrounding environment. The wood connects to wider habitat corridors through the FR001 and FR002 areas. These corridors keep the ecology alive. Building here breaks those links forever. You can’t replace a hedgerow or regenerate a breeding ground once it’s buried under concrete. Source: Planning Inspectorate – https://nsip-documents.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/published-documents/EN010153-000069-6.1_ES%20Vol%201%20Chapter%207%20Terrestrial%20Ecology.pdf 5. Significant Disturbance to The Woodland Hob Hey is relatively secluded. Building hundreds of houses nearby could lead to significant disturbance of the woodland and its wildlife. The resulting huge increase in pets would result in problems. Cats are supreme predators which would take a toll on wildlife. Dogs would also disturb wildlife and their feces have been shown to cause nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. Source:  https://www.theguardian.com/.../dog-pee-and-poo-harming... 6. Flood Risk is Not a Hypothetical Surface water flooding is the biggest threat to homes in England today. Over 4.6 million homes are now at risk from it. That’s double the number at risk from rivers or coastal surge. In Frodsham, those risks already exist. Hob Hey Wood and the green land around it act as a sponge. They slow rain and reduce flood peaks. Building on FR002 and FR001 means water runs off faster, overloading drains and pushing into homes and roads. The council’s own Flood Risk Assessment warns against removing these natural barriers. From the late 1990’s to 2005 this happened in Langdale Way! Residents experienced multiple sewerage floods leading to a campaign involving both the council and United Utilities to resolve the issue before the houses became uninsurable. This resulted in a year long disruptive excavation at Manor House School fields to install huge tanks to stem the catastrophic floods. UU stated that this was the only site that that type of construction could take place. House building adjacent could result in these issues arising again! Source: Cheshire West SFRA – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/parking-roads-and-travel/highways/flood-risk-assessment-final-report.pdf Source: Financial Times – https://www.ft.com/content/ff3bb769-9339-4015-80bc-4a3ea446504e 7. GP Practices and Schools Are Full There is no spare capacity in Frodsham’s infrastructure. GP practices are running at limit. Schools are close to capacity. New homes mean more pressure, more waiting, more stretched services. No part of this development includes concrete plans or funding for new public services. That means the burden falls on existing ones, which are already struggling. Source: Cheshire West Monitoring Reports – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/planning-and-building-control/local-plan/authority-monitoring-report 8. Air Quality and Light Pollution Will Get Worse Frodsham is already inside an Air Quality Management Area. Cars are the top local pollutant. FR001 and FR002 would bring more cars, more exhaust, and more noise into a space that’s supposed to be protected. Lighting from new housing, cars and street lamps will spill into Hob Hey Wood and rural zones. This ruins habitat for nocturnal species and affects human sleep cycles. Light pollution has a detrimental effect on bats. There are seven species present in Hob Hey Wood including rare Nathusius’ pipistrelle. Moths are also affected by light pollution. Source: Cheshire West AQMA Action Plan – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/pests-pollution-food-safety/pollution-and-air-quality/air-quality-review-and-assessment/action-plans/action-plan-frodsham-0118.pdf Source: Bat Conservation Trust Guidance NoteGN08/23Bats and Artificial Lighting At Night. Source: Impact of light pollution on moth morphology–A 137-year study in Germany https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2021.05.004).   9. Antisocial Behaviour and Isolation Will Rise New estates without integrated planning lead to social fragmentation. These areas become disconnected, under-policed, and under-supported. This isn’t speculation. It’s known from other developments nationally. The National Planning Policy Framework requires that growth supports community cohesion. This proposal does not. It isolates new homes on the edge of town and dumps responsibility for cohesion onto already stretched services. Source: NPPF (2023) – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework--2 10. House Prices Will Drop People buy in Frodsham for access to open countryside, peace, and green views. Strip those away, and the value drops. This development removes the very features that give existing homes their worth. Homeowners who’ve invested in the area will be hit with lower resale values and a loss of the rural edge they were sold on. Developers walk away with profit. Residents are left picking up the cost. 11. Greenbelt Is Not A Technicality The Greenbelt is there for a reason. Once you breach it, you set precedent for more erosion. This is not just about FRO01 or FRO02. It’s about what follows next if this goes ahead. National guidance is clear: development on Greenbelt land must be avoided unless there are absolutely no alternatives. In this case, there are alternatives. This land should remain untouched. Source: GOV.UK Greenbelt Guidance – ttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-planning-policy-framework/13-protecting-green-belt-land 12. Final Statement – Reject This Now This proposal is bad planning. It adds pressure to failing infrastructure. It increases flood risk. It destroys wildlife corridors. It worsens air quality. It lowers property values. It puts lives at risk. It benefits developers and damages communities. This is not sustainable. It is not justified. It is not acceptable. FRO01 and FRO02 must be removed from development plans entirely. This objection demands that the proposal be rejected in full. Nothing else will do.    

Comment

Representation ID: 1239

Received: 04/08/2025

Respondent: Colette Hutchinson

SS 42
I&O_1344
I wish to comment on the above planning consultation. green belt land must be retained. , The development of green belt must be avoided and the land should remain untouched..   1 is the only reasonable option  As i am resident in Frodsham I particularly object to building or development on two areas of land  FR 001 ans FR002 .THIS LAND SHOULD NOT BE DEVELOPED     It includes Hob Hey woods a haven for wildlife and local people it is an old  habitat home to many  diverse species it  is an important woodland.   The land also includes Townfield allotments which is registered as an asset of community value .  Building in any area of green belt will have a significant impact on the environment.

Option A - Retain the Green Belt

Comment

Representation ID: 1249

Received: 01/08/2025

Respondent: Freya Brooks

I&O_1354
Objection to Proposed Housing Developments in Frodsham & Helsby 1. Inadequate Infrastructure and Strain on Public Services The existing infrastructure in Frodsham and Helsby is already under pressure. Local roads are congested, schools are near capacity, and GP surgeries are overstretched. Proposing to add between 1,500 and 3,000 new homes, without a confirmed ‘Infrastructure Delivery Plan’ is irresponsible and unsustainable. Planning policies clearly state that developments must be supported by sufficient infrastructure - a condition that is not currently being met in this case. 2. Threat to Local Wildlife and Protected Landscapes The proposed development areas are in close proximity to important ecological zones, including Local Wildlife Sites and the nationally significant Ince Marshes. Building here would disrupt natural habitats, threaten protected species, and breach biodiversity commitments outlined in the council’s Local Plan (Part Two, Policies DM2 and DM46–DM50). These areas are ecologically sensitive and deserve strict protection - not irreversible damage. 3. National Planning Policy and Green Belt Protections Helsby and Frodsham are surrounded by Green Belt land intended to limit urban sprawl and preserve countryside. The Cheshire West Local Plan confirms that 42% of the borough is Green Belt and specifies that only development requiring a rural location should be permitted. National guidance (NPPF) allows Green Belt development only in exceptional circumstances - criteria which have not been met here. No justification has been given to override these protections, and allowing this would set a dangerous precedent. 4. Loss of Town Character and Community Identity Large-scale housing developments would fundamentally alter the rural character and cultural identity and charm of both Helsby and Frodsham. These are not blank spaces on a map; they are living landscapes with historic walking routes, market town charm, and cherished green spaces for nature enthusiasts. Dumping thousands of homes into this environment would strip away local walking routes, where dogs walk and children learn about their environment and so forth and just ruining what makes these communities special and significantly impacting residents’ sense of place and well-being – as I’m sure you are aware mental health is especially important to factor in. 5. Misguided Reliance on Rail Access for Expansion Although Helsby and Frodsham benefit from train stations, this alone does not make them suitable for major housing growth. Option C’s focus on rail-linked development fails to acknowledge that transport infrastructure in the area is limited and no upgrades are planned. Relying on existing rail links without investment, risks creating unsustainable sprawl and diminishing the distinct identities of both towns. 6. Housing Needs Already Accounted for in Local Plans Frodsham’s Neighbourhood Plan — built on community consultation and formally adopted — demonstrates that local housing targets (around 250 homes by 2030) can be fully met without touching the Green Belt. This plan clearly reflects residents' wishes to protect countryside views, open fields, and green corridors. The housing argument simply doesn’t justify Green Belt loss when current strategies already provide solutions. Long-Term Consequences if Development Proceeds Should these housing proposals be approved, Helsby and Frodsham face losing their character as independent, semi-rural communities. The towns risk becoming absorbed into an ever-expanding corridor of development — resulting in even more conti issues of already gridlocked roads, overstretched healthcare services, a heightened risk of flooding, and the destruction of vital natural habitats. These are not hypothetical concerns; they are well-documented outcomes when planning policy, ecological evidence, and local voices are ignored. Once the land is lost, there is no getting it back, and no residents within Frodsham or Helsby wish to be ignored, we live here and do not want this proposal to be accepted and us me undermined. Final Summary The Green Belt is in place for a reason and should stay that way. These proposals are inconsistent with planning policy, unsupported by infrastructure, and opposed by the local community. No exceptional circumstances have been demonstrated to justify such irreversible change. The law does not support it. The people do not support it. And the environmental, social, and cultural costs would be permanent. Approving this development would mark a serious failure in responsible planning and governance.

Comment

Representation ID: 1368

Received: 05/08/2025

Respondent: Rosemary Merry

SS 42
I&O_1473
Dear Sir/Madam Subject: Objection to Proposed Development on Green Belt Land – Area Between Lakes Estate and Bradley, Frodsham (FR001 & FR002)   I am writing to formally object to the proposed development of Green Belt land between the Lakes Estate and Bradley in Frodsham, including the area surrounding or anywhere near to, Hob Hey Wood. My objection is grounded in material planning considerations, in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and associated guidance.   1. Contribution to Green Belt Purposes (NPPF Para 137 & ID 64-005) The land in question contributes significantly to two core purposes of Green Belt as defined under national policy: - Purpose A – To check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas: The proposed development site is currently free from significant built development, forms part of a natural boundary preventing urban sprawl, and lacks any nearby physical features that could otherwise contain new development. Its release would lead to an incongruous finger of development into the countryside, undermining the integrity of the Green Belt boundary. - Purpose B – To prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another: The land contributes meaningfully to the visual and physical separation between distinct communities. Its development would narrow this gap and erode the clarity of local settlement patterns.   2. Impact on Openness (ID 64-012 & 64-013) The proposed development would significantly harm the spatial and visual openness of the area. It would introduce permanent structures, increased traffic, and human activity — all of which reduce the open character of the land. There is no meaningful mitigation offered that would restore or preserve openness post-development, nor is this development temporary or reversible.   3. Sustainability of the Location (ID 64-011) The location lacks sufficient infrastructure to support sustainable transport, contrary to the aims set out in paragraphs 110 and 115 of the NPPF. Access is car-dependent, with limited public transport options or active travel infrastructure. Development here would not promote sustainable patterns of living and would place strain on already stretched local services such as healthcare and education.   4. Failure to Identify Appropriate Brownfield Alternatives The NPPF (para 119) is clear that development should prioritise brownfield land and land within existing settlements before Green Belt release is considered. The release of this area appears premature and unjustified without full consideration and exhaustion of such alternatives.   5. Cumulative Harm to the Green Belt (ID 64-008) Allowing this development would undermine not just this specific Green Belt parcel, but the overall integrity of the Green Belt in the plan area. Piecemeal release threatens the long-term permanence of the Green Belt, a key principle of national policy.   6. Local Environmental and Community Value While not the primary basis for this objection, it is important to note that Hob Hey Wood and the surrounding green space provide crucial biodiversity value, educational use, and wellbeing benefits to the community. Their degradation would represent a significant local loss.   In Conclusion This proposal: - Fails to meet the test for appropriate Green Belt release, - Undermines several Green Belt purposes (especially A and B), - Damages openness in a lasting way, - Is located in an unsustainable area, - And does not demonstrate a justifiable need that overrides these concerns. I respectfully urge the council to reject the proposal in line with both local plan policy and national guidance. The land continues to serve important Green Belt functions and must be protected accordingly Yours faithfully, Rosemary Merry

Comment

Representation ID: 1370

Received: 05/08/2025

Respondent: Nigel Merry

SS 42
I&O_1475
Dear Planning Team, I’m writing to object to the proposed development of Green Belt land between the Lakes Estate and Bradley in Frodsham, including areas surrounding Hob Hey Wood, as part of the Local Plan housing allocations (FRO01 and FRO02). This proposal raises significant concerns on multiple fronts—environmental, infrastructural, and community-related—that I urge the Council to reconsider before moving forward. 1. Green Belt Protection This is Green Belt land, and under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF, paragraphs 137–140), development here should only be allowed in exceptional circumstances. Frankly, no such exceptional circumstances have been demonstrated. There are plenty of alternative brownfield or infill sites across the borough. Choosing to target this specific stretch of countryside—purely because it's near Frodsham train station—ignores both its ecological value and its role in maintaining the rural character of the area. Allowing development here would undermine the core purpose of the Green Belt: to prevent urban sprawl, safeguard countryside, and protect communities like ours from exactly this kind of overreach. 2. Irreversible Harm to Hob Hey Wood Hob Hey Wood is a rare and ancient woodland, rich in biodiversity and enjoyed by generations of local people. Building hundreds of houses on the land next to it would put the entire woodland at risk. Likely consequences include: - Habitat loss and fragmentation - Light and noise pollution affecting sensitive species - Hydrological changes from tarmac and concrete increasing water runoff into the woodland - Pets disturbing and preying on wildlife - Long-term ecosystem damage and potential decline of rare and locally important species Ancient woodland is irreplaceable. Once lost, it’s lost forever. 3. Traffic and Infrastructure Pressure Frodsham and Helsby already deal with significant congestion, especially during peak times or when there are problems on the M56. This development would mean hundreds of extra cars, with no road improvements proposed to handle that traffic. The current road network simply isn’t built for this scale of pressure—and construction traffic alone would be hugely disruptive. Emergency vehicle access would also be compromised, increasing risk to life. 4. Strained Local Services There is no capacity in local services to absorb the population increase this proposal would bring: - GPs, dentists, schools and social care are already under strain - No evidence of investment or phasing plans to expand these services The result would be a town pushed beyond its limits—and a new estate built on broken promises. 5. Flood Risk and Sewage Capacity The area is already prone to surface water flooding, and this development would only make it worse. Turning absorbent fields into roads, driveways, and rooftops will increase runoff and overwhelm already stretched drainage systems. From the late 1990s to 2005, homes in Langdale Way suffered repeated sewer flooding, until a major excavation project was undertaken at Manor House School to mitigate the problem. United Utilities confirmed this was the only viable mitigation site. Building adjacent to it could undo that hard-won fix. 6. Overdevelopment and Loss of Character This proposal would increase Frodsham’s population by up to 50%—completely out of step with the size and character of the town. This is not sustainable growth. It’s speculative overdevelopment, which risks turning a unique, historic place into just another commuter sprawl. 7. Visual Impact, Heritage Loss, and Mental Wellbeing Hob Hey Wood isn’t just trees—it’s part of Frodsham’s soul. Losing that sense of green enclosure and visual peace would be a real blow to our mental health, local identity, and community cohesion. And yes, it will affect property values, especially if it leads to traffic gridlock, increased pollution, or a return of flooding. Summary There is no justification—exceptional or otherwise—for building on this land. It conflicts with local policy, national planning guidelines, and plain common sense. FRO01 and FRO02 would: - Destroy precious ecosystems - Overload fragile infrastructure - Create dangerous flood risks - Strip Frodsham of its identity - Deliver long-term harm for short-term targets Please rethink this plan and find more suitable, sustainable locations that don’t sacrifice the town’s character or its natural assets. Sincerely,   Nigel Merry

Comment

Representation ID: 1379

Received: 06/08/2025

Respondent: Helsby Parish Council

I&O_1484
We have concerns that development in the FRO03 area would have an impact on the settlement gap between Frodsham and Helsby. These are two distinct settlements, and we wish to preserve their individual characters and conserve this gap as an important habitat and wildlife corridor.

Comment

Representation ID: 1394

Received: 06/08/2025

Respondent: Mr & Mrs Paul & Yvonne Swann

I&O_1499
I am writing to object to the proposed residential development at Beach Farm, Wallerscote Road, Weaverham (Planning Reference: KNIGHTS/PROPSCO). This proposed development, for [Indicative layout for land at Beach Farm Wallerscote Road, Weaverham, Northwich, 96 dwellings], poses a serious threat to the Green Belt, public safety, biodiversity, and infrastructure, and it conflicts with both national and local planning policies. Green Belt Violation and Landscape Harm The site lies in designated Green Belt, where development should only be permitted in very exceptional circumstances. No such justification has been demonstrated. Building here would permanently erode open countryside, compromise the character of Weaverham, and contradict the purposes of the Green Belt as defined in the NPPF (Para 138). We have always been led to believe a covenant is in place for Beach Farm so no developments would be allowed on the land. It is also worth highlighting that a recent proposal for 15 solar panels nearby was refused on the grounds of Green Belt and landscape harm. It would be wholly inconsistent to allow a housing estate of this size in the same area. Unsafe and Inadequate Access The proposed access arrangements from Wallerscote Road are unsafe. The road with its 7.5ton restriction is already heavily trafficked, narrow in parts, and has limited pavement space. There is no safe pedestrian access into the site for children (also contravening the walk to school policy), disabled persons, or those with prams, and no dedicated cycle lanes. This directly conflicts with Policy ENV7 of the CWAC Local Plan and Manual for Streets guidance on safe, inclusive design. Emergency and refuse vehicles may also face difficulty entering or turning within the site due to gradient and road width constraints, putting future residents at risk. Breach of Local By-Laws and Policy Protections The development risks breaching local by-laws or protective designations affecting hedgerows, trees, or wildlife corridors. It may also violate conditions under: - The Cheshire Landscape Character Assessment, which discourages development on ridge-line or open-field settings; - Any relevant TPOs (Tree Preservation Orders) or historic landscape protections applying to Beach Farm’s boundaries or access points. A full legal and ecological review must be undertaken before any approval is considered. Infrastructure and Services Overcapacity Local schools, GP surgeries, public transport, and drainage systems are already overstretched. No credible plan is in place to address these limitations. This development would place a disproportionate burden on underfunded local services, undermining the quality of life for existing and future residents. Surface Water and Flood Risk The site has known issues with drainage and increased flood risk downstream. Construction would increase impermeable surfaces, exacerbate surface water runoff, and potentially displace water into nearby homes and public highways. Wildlife and Biodiversity Loss This development would clearly destroy mature hedgerows, trees, and habitat supporting bats, nesting birds, badgers, Foxes, and hedgehogs—all species that benefit from legal protection. No convincing biodiversity mitigation or net gain strategy has been presented. Cumulative Overdevelopment With large-scale developments already approved or underway in Winnington, Wallerscote, and Sandy Lane, Weaverham has accepted more than its fair share of housing. This application adds to unsustainable, piecemeal sprawl, with no strategic infrastructure support. Conflict with Emerging Local Plan (Plan A) The site is not included in Plan A of CWAC’s emerging Local Plan, which recognises that Weaverham has already absorbed sufficient housing. This speculative application undermines the Council’s plan-led approach and should be refused accordingly. 9. Effect on current house pricing to Keepers Lane resident’s adjacent to the proposed plan These houses will lose value in the current market, for example: one house had accepted an offer and sold subject to contract, but was immediately rescinded upon the notification of the plans for Beach Farm as a direct result of the leaflet posted through their letter box. A lower offer was put in and rejected. It is now back on the market. Conclusion: This development conflicts with: - The NPPF Green Belt policy, - CWAC Local Plan Policies STRAT 1, STRAT 9, ENV2, ENV4, and ENV7, - The Council’s own recent planning refusals in the area, - The principles of safe access, ecological protection, and lawful land use. I urge Cheshire West and Chester Council to refuse this planning application in full.

Option A - Retain the Green Belt

Comment

Representation ID: 1438

Received: 06/08/2025

Respondent: Mr Neil Rogers

FRO02 & FRO03
I&O_1543
Hob Hey Wood  is an ancient woodland and ponds area with diverse wildlife including many active badger sets. Ancient woodland is our most biodiverse habitat and it is already shrinking alarmingly across Britain. To build anywhere near this environment would severely damage the woodland and its delicate eco structure. This area also has multiple underground streams and waterways, which run under the surrounding fields and through the woods.  A development survey done in the   past has highlighted this issue. - Current road access in the Townfield lane, Bradley Lane, Fairways area is very poor (tracks and narrow country roads) and new housing would create an extra unacceptable burden. Fields next to the River Weaver and the Weaver Canal are prone to flooding. Rain water run off from any new housing developments in to the River Weaver, especially in times of flooding, would be environmentally unacceptable. This also applies to run-off into the   streams in the Hob Hey Wood area.

Comment

Representation ID: 1458

Received: 06/08/2025

Respondent: Mike Carberry

5.1
I&O_1563
In reference to the local Plan Issues and Options (Regulation 18) Consultation 4 July to 29 August 2025 https://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/s91474/Appendix FR001 & FR002 Section 5.1 Key questions: SS41, SS42, SS43 I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to express a strong and unwavering objection to the proposed development on Greenbelt land parcels FR001 and FR002, which border Hob Hey Wood and form part of Frodsham’s last remaining rural buffer. This is not a polite suggestion but a firm and direct opposition to this development. Firstly, the traffic situation in Frodsham is already dire. The A56 and other main roads are regularly gridlocked, especially when the M56 is closed or partially shut. The Weaver Viaduct sees over 112,000 vehicles daily, and this number spikes during roadworks, collisions, or closures. Adding hundreds of extra vehicles from this development will only exacerbate the problem, slowing emergency response times and putting lives at risk. Secondly, Hob Hey Wood is a Site of Biological Interest and ancient woodland, home to thousands of species, many of which are rare or scarce. The woodland is a haven for wildlife and local residents who benefit from the mental and physical health improvements that come from spending time in nature. Building on FR001 and FR002 would destroy wildlife corridors and disrupt this delicate ecosystem. Moreover, surface water flooding is a significant threat to homes in England, and Frodsham is no exception. Hob Hey Wood and the surrounding green land act as a natural sponge, slowing rain and reducing flood peaks. Building on this land means water will run off faster, overloading drains and causing floods. The council’s own Flood Risk Assessment warns against removing these natural barriers. Frodsham’s infrastructure is already stretched to its limits. GP practices and schools are at capacity, and this development includes no plans or funding for new public services. The burden will fall on existing services, which are already struggling. Air quality and light pollution are also major concerns. Frodsham is inside an Air Quality Management Area, and cars are the top local pollutant. Additional vehicles from this development will worsen air quality and increase noise. Lighting from new housing, cars, and street lamps will spill into Hob Hey Wood, ruining habitats for nocturnal species and affecting human sleep cycles. Furthermore, new estates without integrated planning lead to social fragmentation, antisocial behavior, and isolation. The National Planning Policy Framework requires that growth supports community cohesion, but this proposal isolates new homes on the edge of town, dumping the responsibility for cohesion onto already stretched services. House prices will also suffer. People buy in Frodsham for access to open countryside, peace, and green views. This development removes those features, lowering property values and leaving residents to pick up the cost while developers walk away with profit. The Greenbelt is not a technicality. It exists for a reason, and breaching it sets a precedent for further erosion. National guidance is clear: development on Greenbelt land must be avoided unless there are absolutely no alternatives. In this case, there are alternatives, and this land should remain untouched. In conclusion, this proposal is an example of poor planning that adds pressure to failing infrastructure, increases flood risk, destroys wildlife corridors, worsens air quality, lowers property values, and puts lives at risk. It benefits developers at the expense of the community. I strongly urge that this proposal be rejected in full. Thank you for your urgent attention to this matter.

Comment

Representation ID: 1470

Received: 09/08/2025

Respondent: Andrew Rudd

I&O_1575
Yes, as a resident of over 50 years, a local author and nature-lover, I am very much against building on FRO01 and FRO02. This is not a polite suggestion. It is a firm and direct objection to building on FR001 and FR002, two parcels of Greenbelt land that border Hob Hey Wood and form part of Frodsham’s only remaining rural buffer. This proposal is a textbook example of poor planning: it increases flood risk, overloads roads, strains local services, destroys wildlife routes, and rips up national policy. If approved, it will damage the town and everyone in it. Objections in detail Severe Impact on Ancient Woodland I am the author of a book of poetry about Hob Hey Wood. I know it very well and value it as possibly the most important asset of the town of Frodsham. Hob Hey is a Site of Biological Interest and ancient woodland, Britain’s most biodiverse habitat. The wood is home to thousands of species varying from common, to locally scarce, to nationally rare. Over 800 species are listed on the national biological recording site iRecord. Many species only occur in ancient woodland, an increasingly rare habitat. The wood is a haven for both wildlife and local people who enjoy walking the woodland and reaping the benefits of being in nature such as reduced anxiety and depression. Improvements to the immune system and reduced blood pressure also result from time spent in nature. Source: Nature and Mental Health Report’, Mind. Source: ( https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9665958/ ).   Wildlife Corridors Will Be Destroyed Hob Hey Wood is not a decorative patch of trees. It is a functioning woodland used by many species that need access to the surrounding environment. The wood connects to wider habitat corridors through the FR001 and FR002 areas. These corridors keep the ecology alive. Building here breaks those links forever. You can’t replace a hedgerow or regenerate a breeding ground once it’s buried under concrete. Source: Planning Inspectorate – https://nsip-documents.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/published-documents/EN010153-000069-6.1_ES%20Vol%201%20Chapter%207%20Terrestrial%20Ecology.pdf   Significant Disturbance to The Woodland Hob Hey is relatively secluded. Building hundreds of houses nearby could lead to significant disturbance of the woodland and its wildlife. The resulting huge increase in pets would result in problems. Cats are supreme predators which would take a toll on wildlife. Dogs would also disturb wildlife and their feces have been shown to cause nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. Source:    Flood Risk is Not a Hypothetical Surface water flooding is the biggest threat to homes in England today. Over 4.6 million homes are now at risk from it. That’s double the number at risk from rivers or coastal surge. In Frodsham, those risks already exist. Hob Hey Wood and the green land around it act as a sponge. They slow rain and reduce flood peaks. Building on FR002 and FR001 means water runs off faster, overloading drains and pushing into homes and roads. The council’s own Flood Risk Assessment warns against removing these natural barriers. From the late 1990’s to 2005 this happened in Langdale Way! Residents experienced multiple sewerage floods leading to a campaign involving both the council and United Utilities to resolve the issue before the houses became uninsurable. This resulted in a year long disruptive excavation at Manor House School fields to install huge tanks to stem the catastrophic floods. UU stated that this was the only site that that type of construction could take place. House building adjacent could result in these issues arising again! Source: Cheshire West SFRA – https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/parking-roads-and-travel/highways/flood-risk-assessment-final-report.pdf Source: Financial Times – https://www.ft.com/content/ff3bb769-9339-4015-80bc-4a3ea446504e

Comment

Representation ID: 1489

Received: 06/08/2025

Respondent: Holly Lowe

I&O_1597
I’m writing to object to the proposed development of Green Belt land between the Lakes Estate and Bradley in Frodsham, including areas surrounding Hob Hey Wood, as part of the Local Plan housing allocations (FRO01 and FRO02). This proposal raises significant concerns on multiple fronts—environmental, infrastructural, and community-related—that I urge the Council to reconsider before moving forward.  Green Belt Protection This is Green Belt land, and under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF, paragraphs 137–140), development here should only be allowed in exceptional circumstances. Frankly, no such exceptional circumstances have been demonstrated. There are plenty of alternative brownfield or infill sites across the borough. Choosing to target this specific stretch of countryside—purely because it's near Frodsham train station—ignores both its ecological value and its role in maintaining the rural character of the area. Allowing development here would undermine the core purpose of the Green Belt: to prevent urban sprawl, safeguard countryside, and protect communities like ours from exactly this kind of overreach. Irreversible Harm to Hob Hey Wood Hob Hey Wood is a rare and ancient woodland, rich in biodiversity and enjoyed by generations of local people. Building hundreds of houses on the land next to it would put the entire woodland at risk. Likely consequences include: Habitat loss and fragmentation Light and noise pollution affecting sensitive species Hydrological changes from tarmac and concrete increasing water runoff into the woodland Pets disturbing and preying on wildlife Long-term ecosystem damage and potential decline of rare and locally important species. Ancient woodland is irreplaceable. Once lost, it’s lost forever.  Traffic and Infrastructure Pressure Frodsham and Helsby already deal with significant congestion, especially during peak times or when there are problems on the M56. This development would mean hundreds of extra cars, with no road improvements proposed to handle that traffic. The current road network simply isn’t built for this scale of pressure—and construction traffic alone would be hugely disruptive. Emergency vehicle access would also be compromised, increasing risk to life.  Strained Local Services There is no capacity in local services to absorb the population increase this proposal would bring: GPs, dentists, schools and social care are already under strain No evidence of investment or phasing plans to expand these services  The result would be a town pushed beyond its limits—and a new estate built on broken promises.  Flood Risk and Sewage Capacity The area is already prone to surface water flooding, and this development would only make it worse. Turning absorbent fields into roads, driveways, and rooftops will increase runoff and overwhelm already stretched drainage systems. From the late 1990s to 2005, homes in Langdale Way suffered repeated sewer flooding, until a major excavation project was undertaken at Manor House School to mitigate the problem. United Utilities confirmed this was the only viable mitigation site. Building adjacent to it could undo that hard-won fix.  Overdevelopment and Loss of Character This proposal would increase Frodsham’s population hugely —completely out of step with the size and character of the town. This is not sustainable growth. It’s speculative overdevelopment, which risks turning a unique, historic place into just another commuter sprawl.  Visual Impact, Heritage Loss, and Mental Wellbeing Hob Hey Wood isn’t just trees—it’s part of Frodsham’s soul. Losing that sense of green enclosure and visual peace would be a real blow to our mental health, local identity, and community cohesion. And yes, it will affect property values, especially if it leads to traffic gridlock, increased pollution, or a return of flooding.  Summary There is no justification—exceptional or otherwise—for building on this land. It conflicts with local policy, national planning guidelines, and plain common sense. FRO01 and FRO02 would: Destroy precious ecosystems Overload fragile infrastructure Create dangerous flood risks Strip Frodsham of its identity Deliver long-term harm for short-term targets  Please rethink this plan and find more suitable, sustainable locations that don’t sacrifice the town’s character or its natural assets.

Comment

Representation ID: 1490

Received: 06/08/2025

Respondent: Tom Pooler

I&O_1598
Please find attached to this email a document outlining my formal objection to the proposed planning development around Helsby and Frodsham. The objection outlines my reasoning based on planning policy, infrastructure capacity, lack of exceptional circumstances for Green Belt release and the consequential long-lasting environmental damage. I trust that this will be considered as part of the ongoing consultation.

Comment

Representation ID: 1492

Received: 06/08/2025

Respondent: Chris Bradbury

I&O_1600
Objection to Proposed Housing Developments in Frodsham & Helsby 1. Inadequate Infrastructure and Strain on Public Services The existing infrastructure in Frodsham and Helsby is already under pressure. Local roads are congested, schools are near capacity, and GP surgeries are overstretched. Proposing to add between 1,500 and 3,000 new homes, without a confirmed ‘Infrastructure Delivery Plan’ is irresponsible and unsustainable. Planning policies clearly state that developments must be supported by sufficient infrastructure - a condition that is not currently being met in this case. 2. Threat to Local Wildlife and Protected Landscapes The proposed development areas are in close proximity to important ecological zones, including Local Wildlife Sites and the nationally significant Ince Marshes. Building here would disrupt natural habitats, threaten protected species, and breach biodiversity commitments outlined in the council’s Local Plan (Part Two, Policies DM2 and DM46–DM50). These areas are ecologically sensitive and deserve strict protection - not irreversible damage. 3. National Planning Policy and Green Belt Protections Helsby and Frodsham are surrounded by Green Belt land intended to limit urban sprawl and preserve countryside. The Cheshire West Local Plan confirms that 42% of the borough is Green Belt and specifies that only development requiring a rural location should be permitted. National guidance (NPPF) allows Green Belt development only in exceptional circumstances - criteria which have not been met here. No justification has been given to override these protections, and allowing this would set a dangerous precedent. 4. Loss of Town Character and Community Identity Large-scale housing developments would fundamentally alter the rural character and cultural identity and charm of both Helsby and Frodsham. These are not blank spaces on a map; they are living landscapes with historic walking routes, market town charm, and cherished green spaces for nature enthusiasts. Dumping thousands of homes into this environment would strip away local walking routes, where dogs walk and children learn about their environment and so forth and just ruining what makes these communities special and significantly impacting residents’ sense of place and well-being – as I’m sure you are aware mental health is especially important to factor in. 5. Misguided Reliance on Rail Access for Expansion Although Helsby and Frodsham benefit from train stations, this alone does not make them suitable for major housing growth. Option C’s focus on rail-linked development fails to acknowledge that transport infrastructure in the area is limited and no upgrades are planned. Relying on existing rail links without investment, risks creating unsustainable sprawl and diminishing the distinct identities of both towns. 6. Housing Needs Already Accounted for in Local Plans Frodsham’s Neighbourhood Plan — built on community consultation and formally adopted — demonstrates that local housing targets (around 250 homes by 2030) can be fully met without touching the Green Belt. This plan clearly reflects residents' wishes to protect countryside views, open fields, and green corridors. The housing argument simply doesn’t justify Green Belt loss when current strategies already provide solutions. Long-Term Consequences if Development Proceeds Should these housing proposals be approved, Helsby and Frodsham face losing their character as independent, semi-rural communities. The towns risk becoming absorbed into an ever-expanding corridor of development — resulting in even more conti issues of already gridlocked roads, overstretched healthcare services, a heightened risk of flooding, and the destruction of vital natural habitats. These are not hypothetical concerns; they are well-documented outcomes when planning policy, ecological evidence, and local voices are ignored. Once the land is lost, there is no getting it back, and no residents within Frodsham or Helsby wish to be ignored, we live here and do not want this proposal to be accepted and us me undermined. Final Summary The Green Belt is in place for a reason and should stay that way. These proposals are inconsistent with planning policy, unsupported by infrastructure, and opposed by the local community. No exceptional circumstances have been demonstrated to justify such irreversible change. The law does not support it. The people do not support it. And the environmental, social, and cultural costs would be permanent. Approving this development would mark a serious failure in responsible planning and governance.