Cheshire East invites opinion over future development

Cheshire East Council is giving people the opportunity to have their say on how towns and villages in the borough should grow and change over the next 20 years.

The council is encouraging people to attend consultation workshops next week on the Cheshire East Local Development Framework.

The council said more than 60 people attended the Council Chamber at Crewe on Friday 19 November at a Housing Market Partnership workshop to consider the housing challenges facing Cheshire East and to discuss the approaches to providing enough new homes for people.

The council added that the Housing Market Partnership is a multidisciplinary group of stakeholders who meet to discuss housing and planning related issues. A total of 48 representatives of registered social landlords, developers, estate agents and house builders attended the workshop alongside 20 Cheshire East officers and cabinet member Cllr David Brown.

The council also wants people's views on planning ahead to meet the key challenges facing Cheshire East up to 2030. These include:

• Meeting housing need – how much housing is needed and where?
• Promoting economic prosperity, jobs and growth
• Supporting town centres
• Improving transport connections
• Working to promote cultural and social wellbeing
• Conserving and enhancing the natural and built environment
• Reducing impact on climate change

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

• Option One: Growth in Crewe and towns in the south of the borough. This would see limited growth in the north of the borough, no change to the green belt and limited rural development
• Option Two: Growth in Crewe, Macclesfield and towns in the south of the borough. This would include change to the green belt at Macclesfield and some limited rural development
• Option Three: Growth in Crewe, Macclesfield and neighbouring towns in between. This would include changes to the green belt and some limited rural development

Cllr Brown, who has responsibility for performance and capacity, said: "This is a really important consultation and a great opportunity for people to help shape the future direction of Cheshire East.

"It is pleasing to see the number of people who are interested in having their say on the future of Cheshire East. Everyone is encouraged to have their say and get involved with the consultation, as this will form the basis for development in Cheshire East for the next 20 years.

"Once this document is approved, it will form the basis for both housing and economic development sites in specific locations."

Future Local Development Framework workshops will be held on:

• Tuesday 7 December, from 8am to 9.30am, at Crewe Alexandra Football Club, in Gresty Road, Crewe – for a business breakfast event
• Wednesday 8 December, from 6pm to 7.30pm, at The Assembly Room, Macclesfield Town Hall – for a business community workshop

The council added that there will be further opportunities for people to get involved during further consultation on the Local Development Framework, focusing on towns, in 2011.

Copies of the consultation document are available online on the council's website, at local libraries and at the council offices at Westfields, Sandbach.

• Comments can also be submitted online at: http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ldf Alternatively, write to: Spatial Planning Team, Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach CW11 1HZ