Local Plan Issues and Options (Regulation 18)

Comment

Representation ID: 4849

Received: 27/08/2025

Respondent: The Bostock Estate

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5199
There is no reason the Council should not plan to deliver a minimum of 1,914 new homes each year. Planning for this level of growth is necessary to address affordability pressures, support economic development, and ensure a steady supply of housing land across the borough. A proactive response will help maintain a five-year housing land supply and ensure the Local Plan is found sound at examination.

Comment

Representation ID: 5297

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: The Bostock Estate

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5663
Stepped housing may reflect practical delivery challenges, particularly in the early years, however it risks delaying the supply of much-needed homes in areas experiencing acute affordability pressures. Given the identified need and market signals, the Council should avoid under-delivery in the early plan period, instead supporting early phases of development in growth areas such as Winsford and Northwich, where land is available, sustainably located, and benefitting from early developer interest. Several parcels we are promoting already have parties engaged in early delivery discussions, reinforcing their potential to come forward in the early years of the plan period. Delaying these sites would risk underutilising some of the most deliverable and strategically aligned locations in the borough.

Comment

Representation ID: 5298

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: The Bostock Estate

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5664
There is no justifiable reason not to plan for delivering at least 9.9 hectares of employment land per year, as this reflects the identified need and aligns with national policy to support economic growth. Winsford’s strategic location, established infrastructure, and strong connectivity make it a key area for prioritising employment land. As an existing employment hub, it offers significant locational advantages that should be capitalised on through the spatial strategy. The Council must ensure that sufficient and deliverable employment sites are allocated across a range of sizes, including large-scale options, to meet market demand. Doing so will help maintain the borough’s competitiveness and support a resilient economic response to both short and long-term pressures.

Comment

Representation ID: 5300

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: The Bostock Estate

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5666
The spatial principles present a broadly balanced approach, appropriately focusing growth in urban areas and key service centres. However, greater emphasis is needed on the deliverability of housing and employment sites in strategic locations. The strategy should also offer clearer guidance on the timely delivery of supporting infrastructure, particularly transport and community facilities, to enable sustainable growth and minimise the need for Green Belt release where possible.

Comment

Representation ID: 5301

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: The Bostock Estate

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5667
The proposed settlement hierarchy provides a useful framework for directing growth. Continuing prioritisation of settlements like Chester, Northwich and Winsford as key service centres is supported as they carry consistent potential for significant housing and employment expansion. Even so, it is still important that the hierarchy remains flexible enough to support growth in emerging area, reflecting local market demand and infrastructure. Additionally, the strategy should promote mixed-use development in these settlements to foster vibrant and sustainable communities. Our preferred spatial approach is Option B, which offers the greatest potential to distribute growth more evenly across the borough, unlocking early deliverable housing and employment sites aligned with existing infrastructure capacity and market interest. It avoids the over-reliance on constrained urban areas seen in Option A, while also mitigating the environmental and delivery risks associated with large-scale Green Belt release under Option C. Option B provides the flexibility to respond to local needs while maintaining a clear plan-led strategy, ensuring that growth is directed to sustainable, deliverable locations. There is secondary support for Option A, recognising its value in promoting brownfield regeneration and urban intensification, though it is unlikely to accommodate the full scale of growth required, particularly for employment land and a diverse housing mix, given urban capacity and viability limitations. Option C is not supported as a primary strategy, as new settlements and significant Green Belt release would introduce major delivery risks, particularly in the early part of the plan period. It is recommended that the Council adopts Option B as the core spatial strategy, complemented by appropriate elements of Option A where urban opportunities exist, ensuring growth is phased, flexible, and well-integrated with infrastructure and community support, particularly in locations such as Winsford and Northwich.

Comment

Representation ID: 5303

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: The Bostock Estate

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5669
The prioritisation of growth allocations WIN02 (A)/(B) and WIN01 is strongly supported, as these areas offer the most logical and sustainable basis for delivering employment and residential development in Winsford. WIN02 (A)/(B) directly adjoins the existing Industrial Estate and benefits from strong connectivity to key infrastructure such as the train station, making it highly suitable for employment growth. Development of these sites would support the Council’s aim to deliver a minimum of 9.9 hectares of employment land annually, reinforce Winsford’s role as a principal town in the settlement hierarchy, and align with strategic spatial options, particularly Option B, which retains the existing Local Plan distribution. In contrast, WIN01, although currently designated for employment use, is more appropriate for residential development due to its proximity to existing housing and established residential areas. Reallocating this land for housing would support sustainable growth, enhance community integration, and better reflect the site’s characteristics. This balanced approach ensures that employment uses are focused on strategically viable locations like WIN02 (A)/(B), while addressing housing needs in a sustainable and coherent way.

Comment

Representation ID: 5305

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: The Bostock Estate

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5671
Yes, would urge the Council to consider a refinement of land use within WIN01, whereby it becomes mixed used or fully residential. This approach would reflect the actual functional character of the land, ensure efficient use and deliver more a more integrated and sustainable urban extension.

Comment

Representation ID: 5306

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: The Bostock Estate

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5672
No significant constraints existing on the land this representation is promoting, however across Winsford, the following considerations should guide site selection and phasing, such as infrastructure availability, deliverability and balanced growth.

Comment

Representation ID: 5308

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: The Bostock Estate

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5674
We support the policy approach, particularly the focus on Winsford’s role as a strategic employment centre and the Industrial Estate as a key location. We suggest explicitly referencing allocated and potential growth areas such as WIN01 and WIN02 (A)/(B) in delivering this ambition. Site 1 (WIN02 (A)/(B)), with a live outline application, and Site 2 (WIN01), an undeveloped reserve, are well placed to meet the town’s employment and housing needs and could be highlighted in the supporting text or allocations table.

Comment

Representation ID: 5309

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: The Bostock Estate

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5675
We strongly support including WIN01 and WIN02 within the proposed allocations. Site 1 (WIN02 (A)/(B)) benefits from an active outline planning application (20/02144/OUT) and is divided into two parcels for phased delivery. Site 2 (WIN01), though currently proposed for employment, is better suited for residential development. Its proximity to existing residential neighbourhoods presents a sustainable housing opportunity. Allocating Site 2 for residential use would diversify housing supply and better address local needs, while employment uses should focus on Site 1 and other strategic employment areas.