Local Plan Issues and Options (Regulation 18)

Support

Representation ID: 17184

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: Carden Group

I&O_13746
National policy has recently acknowledged that not all Green Belt land performs the same function. The newly defined “Grey Belt” recognises land that is already compromised by development, of poor environmental quality, or with limited openness. Our site clearly falls into this category. It is entirely enclosed and contained by existing housing on the edge of Northwich, with Chester Road to the north, Whitegate Lane to the west, and the A556 to the south. In this context, the land makes no contribution to the fundamental purposes of the Green Belt as set out in paragraph 143 of the NPPF. It does not prevent unrestricted sprawl (purpose a), it does not sit within the gap between towns (purpose b), and it would not affect the setting or special character of a historic town (purpose d). Instead, the site represents a narrow strip of land hemmed in by established development and infrastructure, the release of which would have no material impact on the overall function of the Green Belt. Crucially, the original concept of the Green Belt, set out in Circular 42/55 and PPG2, stressed that Green Belts should be “at least several miles wide” to keep major settlements apart. Removing the site, along with all of the narrow land south of Chester Road shown in Figure 1, would not compromise this principle. The strategic Green Belt gap around Northwich would remain intact and comfortably above this threshold. Moreover, all of the growth areas identified around Northwich in the Local Plan are estimated to deliver in excess of 400 homes. By contrast, sites such as ours, capable of delivering approximately 100 homes, can be brought forward more quickly. Smaller sites of this scale are typically less complex in terms of land assembly, infrastructure provision, and planning negotiations, making them capable of accelerating housing delivery and contributing to meeting the Council’s short-term housing requirements. Accordingly, the land south of Chester Road, including our site outlined in red in Figure 1, should be deleted from the Green Belt. This area is a clear example of “Grey Belt” where carefully planned growth can be accommodated without undermining either the original purpose or the wider integrity of the Green Belt. It should therefore have been considered as a potential growth location for Northwich within the Local Plan.