SADPD - INSPECTOR PUBLISHES INTERIM FINDINGS

Following a process of public hearings which took place over a ten-day period in October and November last year, the independent Planning Inspector has now published his findings. This "interim report" into the policies within Cheshire East Council's revised SADPD (Local Plan Part 2) has concluded that the document is "likely to be found to be sound and legally compliant". 

The inspector's key interim finding include:
- the approach towards meeting residual housing development needs at Local Service Centres (LSCs) through a windfall rather than allocations-led approach is sound;
- the approach towards defining settlement and infill boundaries is justified and soundly based;
- the proposed designation of ‘safeguarded land’ around the Local Service Centres in the north of the Borough is sound;
- the Council’s evidence of Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs is robust and up to date, and the proposed supply of pitches through allocations and permissions would meet the identified need;
-the SADPD makes adequate provision for specialist housing accommodation for older people.

In late 2020, the Council made significant amendments to the previously published version of the SADPD, removing in particular a number of green belt sites that had previously been earmarked for development. Locally within Alderley Edge, this meant that the following sites were removed: (ALD1) land adjacent to Jenny Heyes; (ALD2) Ryleys Farm, north of Chelford Road; and (ALD4) land north of Beech Road. Site (ALD3) Ryleys Farm, remains safeguarded for potential development after 2030.

The inspector's interim finding that the approach to meeting residual housing needs at Local Service Centres (such as Alderley Edge) can be found through windfall rather than through green belt release is sound, is very good news for the village. Whilst this is not a final conclusion, it is a vindication of the current administration's policy at Cheshire East Council of protecting precious green belt land.

Following publication of the inspector's final conclusions, the amended version of the SADPD will need to be formally approved at a meeting of Cheshire East Council later this year.