Local Plan Issues and Options (Regulation 18)

Comment

Representation ID: 11666

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: CPRE Cheshire Branch

I&O_12164
In broad terms, yes. CPRE agrees that the mix and type of housing must be informed by a housing needs assessment. However, the policy must be robustly drafted to ensure that the mix of house sizes provided reflects the mix that is needed, and to avoid any tendency for developers to skew delivery towards the larger dwelling types, which tend to be built at lower, more “land hungry” densities. Information from the 2021 Census indicates that 68.8% of households in England were living in under-occupied dwellings (with one or more spare bedrooms)3. Whilst a degree of under-occupation can be expected given people’s expectations of having spare bedrooms to accommodate guests etc., there are likely to be many households e.g. people in their 70s and 80s who may be struggling to cope in a large family home where the occupier would like to move into a smaller dwelling. Allowing for this down-sizing will help address social care needs as well as free up existing larger housing for families which need it. This is of interest to CPRE as it would facilitate more efficient use of the existing housing stock and hence reduce pressures for yet more housing estates in countryside areas. For these reasons, we support the provision of specialist accommodation for the elderly provided this is in accessible areas close to a range of facilities.   3 See https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/articles/overcrowdingandunderoccupancybyhouseholdcharacteristicsenglandandwales/census2021

Comment

Representation ID: 11667

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: CPRE Cheshire Branch

I&O_12165
Yes.

Comment

Representation ID: 11668

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: CPRE Cheshire Branch

I&O_12166
We support the provision of student accommodation in suitable locations, as this can help free up existing housing to meet more general housing needs. Any proposals affecting the Leahurst campus would need to be considered in the light of their impact on the surrounding area.

Comment

Representation ID: 11669

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: CPRE Cheshire Branch

I&O_12167
We broadly support the approach, but consider that it needs to be sharpened to fully address affordable housing needs. Research by CPRE nationally has stressed the depth of the crisis of housing affordability faced by people living in rural areas – see for example https://www.cpre.org.uk/explainer/our-rural-affordable-housing-campaign-explained/. One of the problems relates to the need to specify more clearly what is meant by “affordable”. The definition in annex 2 of the NPPF includes a wide range of categories including for example housing that is delivered at up to 80% of market rates, which will still be unaffordable for many people. For this reason, policy approach HO2 should specify minimum amounts of the different types of affordable housing needed, which will be likely to include “social rent”, which is more tightly defined. A minimum level of social rented housing is likely to be required, linked to the housing needs assessment.

Comment

Representation ID: 11670

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: CPRE Cheshire Branch

I&O_12168
Yes. We agree that a lower threshold of three or more dwellings should be applied in designated rural areas. The areas which are designated should be reviewed if relevant evidence e.g. the proposed housing needs assessment justifies this.

Comment

Representation ID: 11671

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: CPRE Cheshire Branch

I&O_12169
Yes

Comment

Representation ID: 11672

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: CPRE Cheshire Branch

I&O_12170
Yes, in principle we support the retention of these policies.

Comment

Representation ID: 11673

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: CPRE Cheshire Branch

I&O_12171
Yes

Comment

Representation ID: 11675

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: CPRE Cheshire Branch

I&O_12173
Possibly, we recommend that the Council considers all made and emerging neighbourhood plans to pick up any specific local issues in their area, and for areas without a neighbourhood plan to be reviewed to identify the need for locally specific policy of this type.

Comment

Representation ID: 11676

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: CPRE Cheshire Branch

I&O_12174
Yes. Appropriately designed proposals for living over the shop can provide a valuable addition to housing supply and also improving the levels of activity and hence viability of town, district and local centres.