Local Plan Issues and Options (Regulation 18)

Comment

Representation ID: 16396

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: Active Cheshire

I&O_16977
Active Cheshire agrees with the suggested policy approach. We particularly welcome the clear emphasis on improving accessibility to local footpath and cycle networks and maximising opportunities for new developments to become genuinely walkable communities. These elements are vital in creating environments where active travel is the easy and natural choice, supporting both climate and health outcomes. We would encourage the policy to place even greater emphasis on the role of physical activity as a core outcome of transport policy, not just a co-benefit. Embedding Sport England’s Active Design Principles, particularly “Walkable Communities” and “Connected active travel routes,” would help ensure that every transport intervention is explicitly assessed against its potential to support active lifestyles. For example, the policy could require all major new developments to include direct, safe, and attractive walking and wheeling connections to schools, shops, employment sites, and community facilities.

Comment

Representation ID: 16397

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: Active Cheshire

I&O_16978
Active Cheshire strongly supports the inclusion of a hierarchical approach to transport users, with people walking or wheeling, followed by cycling or riding, placed at the top of the hierarchy. Prioritising active modes is essential to tackling inactivity, reducing health inequalities, and improving air quality and safety in our communities. We recommend that the policy makes explicit the expectation that planning and transport decisions must demonstrate how this hierarchy has been applied in practice, ensuring that the needs of pedestrians and cyclists are not compromised by car-centric design.

Comment

Representation ID: 16398

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: Active Cheshire

I&O_16979
We broadly agree with the suggested policy approach towards infrastructure and developer contributions. It is essential that new development provides for the full range of infrastructure needs, including education, health, sustainable transport, digital connectivity, and cultural/community facilities.  However, we would emphasise the importance of ensuring that infrastructure delivery does not only mitigate the direct impacts of new development but also contributes positively to reducing existing inequalities. This should include contributions to active environments, green infrastructure, and social infrastructure in deprived communities, with meaningful contributions shaped by community engagement to ensure they genuinely reflect local needs and priorities.

Comment

Representation ID: 16399

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: Active Cheshire

I&O_16980
Developer contributions should not be restricted solely to major developments, as smaller-scale schemes can also create pressures on local infrastructure. If contributions are limited only to large-scale developments, the cumulative impact of smaller sites could leave significant gaps in provision. We would also emphasise that, as outlined in our response to HW2, contributions from smaller developments could be aligned with the outcomes of Health Impact Assessments. Where HIAs demonstrate that new developments are located in areas of poor health or high deprivation, developer contributions should be required to help address local inequalities. This would ensure that infrastructure delivery not only supports growth but also tackles the wider determinants of health, embedding equity into the planning system. ‘Major development’ should therefore be defined carefully and consistently, but the policy should allow flexibility to require contributions from smaller schemes where a clear infrastructure or health need is identified. This approach would help ensure equity across different settlements and avoid leaving communities with insufficient resources to manage growth.

Comment

Representation ID: 16400

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: Active Cheshire

I&O_16981
Active Cheshire agrees with the suggested policy approach and strongly supports embedding health and wellbeing into the Local Plan. We welcome the recognition that planning policies can have a profound impact on health outcomes. However, we recommend that the policy goes further by: Placing particular emphasis on reducing health inequalities, ensuring that developments in areas of deprivation or poor health outcomes provide enhanced opportunities for activity and wellbeing. In addition, the policy should promote enhanced collaborative efforts between public health and planning to ensure that health considerations are consistently and effectively integrated into both decision-making and delivery.

Comment

Representation ID: 16401

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: Active Cheshire

I&O_16982
Health Impact Assessments are a vital tool in ensuring development delivers positive health outcomes. We recommend setting thresholds that require HIAs for all major developments, as well as for smaller developments located in areas of poor health or high deprivation. A tiered approach should be adopted, with Rapid HIAs applied to moderate-impact developments and comprehensive HIAs required for larger or higher-risk schemes. HIAs should explicitly assess opportunities for physical activity, including active travel, access to green and blue space, and the provision of recreational facilities. Finally, monitoring and enforcement must be embedded to ensure HIA recommendations are acted upon. Taken together, these measures would ensure HIAs remain proportionate, evidence-based, and impactful.

Comment

Representation ID: 16402

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: Active Cheshire

I&O_16983
Yes, we support the inclusion of relevant elements of the Hot Food Takeaways Guidance in the Local Plan. We particularly recommend: Restricting new hot food takeaways within 400m proximity to education settings, to help shape healthier environments for children and young people. Considering the cumulative impact of multiple takeaways on local health outcomes, particularly in areas with higher obesity prevalence and/or deprivation. Broadening the guidance note to include leisure centres, sports facilities, and other community settings where healthier environments can support increased opportunities for activity and wellbeing.

Comment

Representation ID: 16403

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: Active Cheshire

I&O_16984
We agree with the suggested approach, particularly the emphasis on protecting, managing and enhancing existing open spaces and ensuring accessibility to green corridors and recreational routeways. This aligns strongly with the evidence on the importance of open space for physical activity, wellbeing and reducing inequalities. However, there is scope to place greater emphasis on physical activity outcomes within the policy wording. Specifically, the policy could explicitly reference the role of open spaces, sport and recreation facilities in:  Supporting everyday activity (active travel, informal play, social walking/cycling). Addressing inactivity and reducing health inequalities across different socio-demographic groups. Embedding co-benefits with environmental policies (GI 1), such as green space supporting both biodiversity and physical activity.  We would also recommend ensuring that the Playing Pitch Strategy 2025 update and Open Space Study inform standards that reflect both current participation trends and projected population growth.

Comment

Representation ID: 16404

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: Active Cheshire

I&O_16985
The current thresholds remain a suitable baseline, but future-proofing is important. We suggest: Using Sport England’s planning tools alongside local inactivity/health inequality data to shape contribution levels, ensuring areas with greater health need see proportionally stronger provision. Incorporating quality as well as quantity in contribution requirements, so facilities are inclusive, accessible and encourage sustained use. Exploring flexibility in thresholds to support innovative forms of provision, such as multi-use spaces or PlayZone-type approaches that widen participation.

Comment

Representation ID: 16405

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: Active Cheshire

I&O_16986
The Playing Pitch Strategy (2021, with a 2025 update report) remains up to date and provides a strong evidence base for sport specific provision. However, the Open Space Study (2016–2030) should be reviewed to ensure it reflects current needs, usage patterns, and emerging priorities, particularly around accessibility, inclusivity, climate adaptation, and health outcomes. A refreshed Open Space Study would also help align provision with the evolving role of green infrastructure in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, and would support the identification of a clear hierarchy of schemes that could be used in instances where onsite developer contributions are not viable.