Local Plan Issues and Options (Regulation 18)

Comment

Representation ID: 12009

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: Cheshire East Council

I&O_12523
We welcome Cheshire West and Chester’s commitment to constructive engagement with Cheshire East on strategic cross boundary matters. As you might expect, the Plan’s approach towards Middlewich is of particular interest to us. We agree with the general approach set out in Policy MI 1. Close working and collaboration are very important, and your proposal to keep open, at this stage, the potential for land around Middlewich within Cheshire West and Chester’s administrative area to come forward to help meet the town’s development needs is sensible. Cheshire East Council is committed to taking forward a new Local Plan. It will be prepared under the reformed plan-making system set out in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023. The government is now expected to put in place the enabling regulations and changes to national planning policy by the end of this calendar year so that work can formally commence on new-style local plans by early 2026. We will be developing our updated planning policy approach towards Middlewich over the next 18 months or so with the aim that the two new local plans will be able to address Middlewich in a joined-up way.  We look forward to working with you closely and collaboratively to that end.

Comment

Representation ID: 12011

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: Cheshire East Council

I&O_12525
We note that under all the ‘Spatial strategy options’, a considerable amount of new housing and employment development could be directed to Winsford. The need to improve connectivity along the A54 corridor between Winsford to the M6 has been a long-standing issue. Directing additional growth to the town could significantly compound this. As you will be aware, Cheshire East is proposing to deliver the Middlewich Eastern Bypass (MEB), a new two-way single carriageway road, connecting a new roundabout junction off Pochin Way in the north to another new roundabout junction to the south, linking with the A533 Booth Lane. In July this year the Government granted full approval for the scheme, committing £48m towards it. Subject to finalising costs and land assembly, main construction works are anticipated to commence on site in 2026. Although the MEB will assist in addressing some existing traffic issues in Middlewich and support the delivery of growth that is already planned for within the current Cheshire East Local Plan, it will not address the existing problems related to east-west traffic movements along the A54. We therefore look forward to continuing work with you to find a way to address this A54 corridor issue.

Comment

Representation ID: 12014

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: Cheshire East Council

I&O_12528
We have no specific comments to make at present; however, we are keen to continue discussions regarding cross boundary waste management capacity.

Comment

Representation ID: 12016

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: Cheshire East Council

I&O_12530
We have no specific comments to make at present; however, we are keen to continue cross boundary discussions, particularly taking into account that Cheshire East remains heavily reliant on Cheshire West and Chester for the supply of aggregate sand.