Cheshire East Council has set out its intentions for future consultation and engagement on its Local Plan.
A procedural meeting was held on Tuesday, October 6th and if all goes according to schedule with the hearings of the Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy examination held during October, the Council intends to hold a period of public consultation over the winter.
This consultation will address the new and amended strategic sites as well as suggested revisions to the Local Plan (chapters 1-14, 16 and 17, plus appendices).
The timing of any consultation will be subject to satisfactory progress with the examination process this autumn. Further interim views are expected from the Inspector during the second half of November, which will then guide subsequent stages.
It is anticipated that the outcome of any consultation over the winter will be available to inform a further set of resumed hearings in the spring next year. This will deal with any further issues on strategic growth and development, plus a number of sessions on individual sites.
Assuming progress continues to be made, a further period of consultation will also follow the publication of proposed modifications later in 2016.
Councillor Rachel Bailey, Cabinet member in charge of the Local Plan, said: "This Council is committed to ensure that development is appropriate, planned and sustainable. Moreover, we understand the need to thoroughly engage with communities and stakeholders.
"The hearings held during October will consider if the evidence prepared by the Council properly addresses the Inspector's concerns.
"It's only if it does that will it be appropriate to put forward the material for consultation. Once we have that indication from the Inspector, we will welcome everyone's views on the evidence and revisions that flow from it.
"We will also be seeking views on a selection of new sites to help meet the increase in homes and jobs across the Borough. It is important to state that there is not a preferred list for development at the present time – but rather an indication of the sites currently under consideration."
An indicative programme for the whole Local plan strategy process is set below:
21-23 & 27-30 October 2015 - Resumed hearings to review and assess additional evidence produced during suspension of examination and consider its implications for the submitted Local Plan Strategy.
Mid-November 2015 - Inspector issues further Interim Views on outcome of resumed hearings.
December 2015 - Council publishes revisions (focused changes) to submitted Plan, along with new or amended strategic site allocations, for public consultation.
March 2016 - Resumption of hearings to consider site allocations (including additional, amended and existing sites), along with other focused changes to the submitted Local Plan Strategy.
May/June 2016 - Main Modifications to submitted Local Plan Strategy published for public consultation.
Mid-2016 - Possible re-opened hearings to consider new matters arising from public consultation on Main Modifications.
Late-2016 - Inspector's report on soundness and legal compliance of submitted Local Plan Strategy, with recommended changes.
Late-2016 - Council adopts Local Plan Strategy.
Photo: Councillor Rachel Bailey.
