Local Plan Issues and Options (Regulation 18)

Comment

Representation ID: 14883

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: The Oulton Estate

Agent: Grimster Planning

I&O_15434
The evidence base documents listed at paragraph 1.19 of the I&O, and within the evidence base section of the planning policy webpages, are considered to form a strong basis to inform and shape the new Local Plan. It is considered that a Settlement Hierarchy assessment should be undertaken with clear criteria established to determine where settlements sit within the hierarchy, based on access to services, education and public transport amongst others. A Settlement Limits Review should also be undertaken, demonstrating how settlement boundaries within each of the settlements identified for growth within the new Local Plan (to be confirmed as part of the Local Plan process) will be adjusted to accommodate new housing and (where appropriate) economic growth. This includes any existing housing commitments which remain extant and where a lawful material start has been made, and any new housing commitments that may be granted during the Local Plan preparation process.

Comment

Representation ID: 14884

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: The Oulton Estate

Agent: Grimster Planning

I&O_15435
In accordance with paragraph 22 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published in December 2024, the strategic policies of the new Local Plan should cover a minimum 15-year period from adoption. It is not considered that the Council should consider new settlements as part of its development strategy such that it would warrant an extended, 30-year Local Plan period.

Comment

Representation ID: 14885

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: The Oulton Estate

Agent: Grimster Planning

I&O_15436
There are a significant number of ‘ made ’ Neighbourhood Plans across the Cheshire West and Chester Borough. Very few of these allocate any land for housing, and housing policies contained within largely repeat the guidance contained within the Local Plan. To this end, their purpose in relation to the principle of housing development is somewhat limited. Given that it is a requirement for Neighbourhood Plan policies to conform with the strategic policies of the Local Plan, it is not considered advisable that updated and new Neighbourhood Plans be progressed until such time that the strategic policies of the new Local Plan have been tested and found sound. This would ensure that Officer time and resource is not taken up assisting with the preparation of Neighbourhood Plans that might be viewed as premature to the new Local Plan. We would encourage Neighbourhood Plans to be streamlined, to avoid repeating existing Local Plan policies. Instead, the policies contained within should instead focus on specific local needs, offering guidance on potential house types and tenures that are required in a local area, any community needs and aspirations, and any important design considerations (for example, where there is a Conservation Area). Neighbourhood Plans should not include onerous policies aimed at restricting or frustrating development that would otherwise accord with the Local Plan; instead, they should carefully facilitate development which is in accordance with the justified policies contained within it and the Local Plan to ensure that the Council’s development and spatial strategy can be met.

Comment

Representation ID: 14886

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: The Oulton Estate

Agent: Grimster Planning

I&O_15437
No. The Council’s new Local Plan should plan positively for growth consistent with paragraph 36(a) of the NPPF. The latter is clear that Local Plans should provide a strategy which “as a minimum seeks to meet the  area’s objectively assessed needs.” Based on the Local Housing Needs Figures published by the Government in December 2024, the Council should therefore plan for the Local Plan’s development and spatial strategy to deliver 1,914 dwellings per year across at least a 15-year period, as a minimum (and any subsequent adjustments to this figure). Given that the adopted Local Plan covers a period of 20 years, there is no reason why a new 20-year Local Plan period could not be advanced, particularly given the considered need for strategic Green Belt release across the Borough; this would allow for amended Green Belt boundaries to endure for a longer period.

Comment

Representation ID: 14887

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: The Oulton Estate

Agent: Grimster Planning

I&O_15438
No. The Council’s development and spatial strategy should ensure that there is a sufficient supply of deliverable housing land across the Borough to meet its minimum housing requirement from Year One of the new Local Plan period. This can be achieved by ensuring that land is allocated for housing across the Borough, in all of the Main Towns, larger villages and smaller villages as a minimum approach. There is no reason not to adopt this positive approach to housing delivery, particularly given that a large area of the Borough is located outside of the Green Belt.

Comment

Representation ID: 14888

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: The Oulton Estate

Agent: Grimster Planning

I&O_15439
It is noted that reference is made to smaller settlements with a lower level of services and access to public transport possibly being suitable for infill development and brownfield  development. This approach is far too restrictive. There are a number of smaller settlements which are capable of accommodating smaller, major housing schemes (10-30 dwellings for example), rather than simply being restricted to infill or brownfield development. There are some smaller settlements, some of which are identified as Local Service Centres in the Part Two Local Plan, which can accommodate such growth and have access to public transport, primary school and other services; there is no need to restrict growth in these villages. This includes the likes of Little Budworth and Eaton. Paragraph 83 of the NPPF is clear that housing should be located in rural areas where it will “enhance or  maintain the vitality of rural communities.” There are many rural communities across the Borough where services have closed (i.e. shops, post offices), and public transport services have ceased (i.e. bus services) owing to a lack of customers; these rural communities need more housing (including affordable housing) and more people living within them to support and sustain them. The new Local Plan should ensure that this is the case, rather than continuing to adopt the stance that they are only suitable for limited growth; that very approach in the currently adopted Local Plan has contributed to some of the issues now facing the smaller villages and communities across the Borough.

Comment

Representation ID: 14889

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: The Oulton Estate

Agent: Grimster Planning

I&O_15440
Yes. There is the need for a balanced distribution of housing across the Borough over the next Local Plan period. Housing land should be allocated on deliverable and developable brownfield and greenfield land (Green Belt and Open Countryside) across the Borough in the Main Towns, larger villages, smaller villages, and on lawful previously developed sites in the Green Belt and open countryside which have a degree of locational sustainability that would make them suitable for a residential land-use (consistent with paragraph 148 of the NPPF). This approach will ensure that new housing is not just directed towards the Main Towns and larger villages, adding pressure to existing infrastructure and services; it will also mean that smaller villages and rural areas/communities are much better supported than they have been since the current Part One Local Plan was adopted in 2015.

Comment

Representation ID: 14890

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: The Oulton Estate

Agent: Grimster Planning

I&O_15441
As outlined above, it is considered that new housing over the duration of the new Local Plan period should firstly be directed towards the Main Town, larger village and smaller villages, with smaller levels of sustainable growth elsewhere within the Rural Area. The character of a smaller village requires no further protection than that in a larger village; ultimately, delivering new housing will inevitably have some degree of impact on the character of a settlement, regardless of its scale. The focus should instead be on ensuring that the new Local Plan provides for a balanced distribution of housing directed primarily towards the Main Towns, larger villages and smaller villages (but not excluding other  parts of the Rural Area).

Comment

Representation ID: 14891

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: The Oulton Estate

Agent: Grimster Planning

I&O_15442
Please refer to comments in response to questions SS14, SS16 and SS18 below.

Comment

Representation ID: 14892

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: The Oulton Estate

Agent: Grimster Planning

I&O_15443
Yes. The new Local Plan should support and facilitate lower levels of growth in rural parts of the Borough (i.e those parts of the rural area that sit below the existing Local Service Centre tier of the adopted Local Plan), something which the policies of the adopted Local Plan do not currently support and facilitate (with the exception of some conversion schemes and rural workers dwellings). The new Local Plan should recognise and support opportunities for infill development, self-build dwellings, and the redevelopment of lawful, previously developed land which can otherwise make a valuable contribution towards the Borough’s housing and/or employment needs. This includes lawful, previously developed land in the countryside.