Local Plan Issues and Options (Regulation 18)

Comment

Representation ID: 4827

Received: 27/08/2025

Respondent: Heat Pumps and Engineering Directors' Pension Fund

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5177
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: 4828

Received: 27/08/2025

Respondent: Heat Pumps and Engineering Directors' Pension Fund

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5178
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 Cuddington where land is available, sustainably located, and benefitting from early developer interest. A stepped approach is typically adopted when there are significant changes in housing requirements, however this trajectory raises fundamental soundness issues. It can be a risky approach that would not deliver sufficient homes early enough to counter and can be arguably contrary to government policy to boost the supply of housing. It is instead worth identifying additional sources of housing delivery in the early years of the plan period. The parcel we are promoting have the 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: 4829

Received: 27/08/2025

Respondent: Heat Pumps and Engineering Directors' Pension Fund

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5179
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 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: 4830

Received: 27/08/2025

Respondent: Heat Pumps and Engineering Directors' Pension Fund

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5180
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 areas, such as Cuddington, to reflect local market demand and infrastructure. Additionally, the strategy should promote mixed-use development in these settlements to foster vibrant and sustainable communities.

Comment

Representation ID: 4831

Received: 27/08/2025

Respondent: Heat Pumps and Engineering Directors' Pension Fund

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5181
The new Local Plan should include place-based policies for key rural settlements such as Cuddington. As a designated Key Service Centre, Cuddington possesses a distinct identity, supported by a variety of local services and facilities that serve both the village and surrounding rural communities. The village benefits from a strong community spirit, a well-defined historic core, and a clear village character that should be preserved and enhanced through tailored planning policies. Place-based policies for Cuddington would ensure that housing growth is appropriate and sustainable, balancing the need for new homes with the preservation of local character and setting, particularly within and near the Conservation Area. Such policies can deliver wider community benefits, including improved access to open spaces, enhanced connectivity through transport links and public amenities, and development that complements the existing settlement pattern. This approach presents a valuable opportunity to provide housing that meets local needs while contributing positively to the long-term vitality and resilience of the community.

Comment

Representation ID: 4832

Received: 27/08/2025

Respondent: Heat Pumps and Engineering Directors' Pension Fund

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5182
It is agreed that the character of smaller settlements should be respected, and that development must be appropriately aligned with the capacity of existing services and infrastructure. However, this principle should not be interpreted as a blanket restriction on growth, particularly where there are opportunities to deliver sustainable development alongside infrastructure improvements. A balanced approach would enable appropriate levels of development in these locations, while requiring contributions to infrastructure and services as necessary, this ensures settlements can grow sustainably and inclusively. Cuddington, as a Key Service Centre, is well positioned to accommodate proportionate, plan-led growth that addresses both local and borough-wide housing needs. With appropriate investment and a supportive planning framework, Cuddington can grow in a manner that respects its unique local character while enhancing community resilience, sustaining vital services, and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Comment

Representation ID: 4833

Received: 27/08/2025

Respondent: Heat Pumps and Engineering Directors' Pension Fund

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5183
Our preferred spatial approach is Option B, which offers the greatest potential to distribute growth more evenly across the borough, unlocking early deliverable housing 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 Cuddington and Northwich

Comment

Representation ID: 4834

Received: 27/08/2025

Respondent: Heat Pumps and Engineering Directors' Pension Fund

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5184
CUD04, which is included within both Option B and C growth approaches, represents a highly suitable and sustainable opportunity for residential development in Cuddington. Its location adjacent to existing built-up areas offers a logical and coherent extension to the settlement, supporting the borough’s housing needs in a deliverable and timely manner. The site’s accessibility to key services and sustainable transport links aligns with paragraphs 82 and 83 of the NPPF, which encourages housing development in villages and rural areas where it contributes to sustainable development patterns. Furthermore, the site’s scale allows for phased delivery, supporting early contributions to the borough’s five-year housing land supply.

Comment

Representation ID: 4835

Received: 27/08/2025

Respondent: Heat Pumps and Engineering Directors' Pension Fund

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5185
The Council’s recognition of multiple growth options around Cuddington and Sandiway is welcomed; however, site CUD04 is highlighted as a well contained location with strong access to local services and transport infrastructure. Its proximity to facilities and amenities further supports its suitability for housing development. A carefully considered release of Green Belt land to meet objectively assessed housing needs is justified where it creates a sustainable and clearly defined boundary that complements the existing urban area. The site’s excellent access to public transport and local amenities aligns with the Council’s goals for sustainable growth and fostering healthy communities, in accordance with Paragraph 96 of the NPPF (2024). Development here would help reduce reliance on private vehicles and support greater social inclusion.

Comment

Representation ID: 4836

Received: 27/08/2025

Respondent: Heat Pumps and Engineering Directors' Pension Fund

Agent: Fisher German LLP

I&O_5186
The site located within CUD04 is largely free from significant physical or environmental constrains, lying outside of flood risk zones, ecological designations and TPOs. While the site is currently designated as Green Belt and countryside, its release is considered appropriate to meet identified housing needs, provided that development respects local character and follows sustainable planning principles. No major infrastructure barriers have been identified that would impede the timely delivery of development on this site. Coordinated investment and planning can ensure that the site integrates effectively with existing communities and services.