Planning Alsager’s future

Cheshire East are again urging people to give their views on the Local Plan.

The Local Plan guides development and defines how planning applications are dealt with until 2030. It sets the overall planning strategy, allocates sites for development and contains planning policies which aim to ensure that new development contributes to the economic, environmental and social needs of the Borough.

For Alsager the Local Plan is very important. Although this document when submitted and accepted (late 2014) will offer much more protection from speculative development (Alsager residents are now faced with an increasing number of speculative housing development proposals in the area), it is important to note that Cheshire East has introduced some new items which if accepted, could seriously disadvantage Alsager:

Alsager’s Housing allocation has been increased from 1,000 to a minimum level of 1,700, and the White Moss development is included as a Strategic Location for up to 1,000 houses, against the wishes of Alsager residents and the Town Council.This could open the door to more than 3,000 new houses in Alsager.

Cheshire East is proposing 350 houses on the MMU site, rather than the 150 recommended by the Inspector or the 300 accepted by our Town Council. Education has been removed from the future uses of the site, and Cheshire East intends that the best buildings and associated Sports facilities will not be retained for the use of Alsager residents. Cheshire East intends that these facilities, which exist in Alsager today and for which we have paid, will be provided in Crewe.

Cheshire East Council has launched an additional six week consultation to allow more time for the public to have their say on the Local Plan before it is presented to the Planning Inspector. The consultation has already started and runs until December 16 2013. David Brown, the authority’s strategic communities portfolio holder, said: “I urge everyone to get involved and give us their views.” 

All documents can be viewed online at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/localplan or at any Cheshire East library or customer service point.