Cheshire East Council United in Opposition to Proposed Adlington New Town

Cheshire East Council passed a joint Notice of Motion, brought forward by Cllr Fiona Wilson (Labour) and seconded by Cllr Mike Sewart (Conservative), formally objecting to the Independent New Towns Task Force’s (NTTF) proposal to establish a new settlement of up to 20,000 homes on land at Adlington.

The motion was introduced in response to the independent NTTF’s recommendation, which had been advanced without meaningful public consultation by either the landowner, or the Task Force itself. While the decision for whether the proposal moves forward rests with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, councillors agreed that Cheshire East could not ignore the fundamental flaws in the proposal or the significant opposition expressed by residents of Adlington, surrounding parishes, and neighbouring towns.

Key Decisions

By passing the motion, the Council:

• Formally objects to the proposal for a New Town at Adlington.
• Authorises the Leader and Deputy Leader to write to the Secretary of State, setting out the Council’s opposition and the reasons behind it.
• Confirms that any future proposals of a similar nature would be referred to the Council’s Economy & Growth Committee for consideration.
• Agrees that any formal consultation responses on the Adlington proposal would be determined via the Economy & Growth Committee.

Reasons for Opposition

Councillors highlighted several critical concerns:

• The proposal is contrary to Government planning policies and undermines the Local Plan process, which prioritises community involvement, brownfield regeneration, and revitalisation of towns such as Crewe and Macclesfield.
• The Adlington site contains high-quality grazing land, long-established farms, and significant woodland, alongside areas of recognised ecological value.
• The location sits within the North Cheshire Green Belt, whose purpose is to prevent urban sprawl and protect the identity of towns and villages. A new town would have created continuous built form from Macclesfield to Stockport, contrary to Green Belt principles.
• The proposal has been advanced without engagement with Cheshire East elected representatives, local councils, residents, or key stakeholders, despite claims of “local support” in the NTTF report.

Future Considerations

Councillors agreed that, should the Secretary of State allow the Adlington proposal to progress, the Council would insist that any development must:

• Prioritise affordable and social housing alongside employment opportunities.
• Deliver primary healthcare, hospitals, education, and community services concurrently with new homes.
• Provide quality public open space, leisure facilities, retail outlets, and sustainable transport links.
• Incorporate robust drainage and flood protection measures.
• Protect and enhance biodiversity while safeguarding long-term food security.

Conclusion

The motion was unanimously agreed with cross-party support, demonstrating a united stance in Cheshire East. Cllr Fiona Wilson and Cllr Mike Sewart emphasised that the Council had spoken with one voice, urging the Secretary of State to remove Adlington from the NTTF’s list of suggested New Towns and to respect the strong opposition of local communities.

Cllr Fiona Wilson said:

“This was a unanimous decision, and I call on all Councillors, campaigners and the community to move forward as one. We will achieve far more if we unite to campaign. We recognise the need for housing, but Adlington is the wrong place. There are far more suitable sites for a new town, and these sites must be prioritised and the Labour Group calls on the Government to abandon this proposal.”

Cllr Nick Mannion, Leader of Cheshire East Council (Labour) said:

“I would like to reassure Councillors that the letter from myself and Cllr Gorman, stating the Council’s opposition to a new town at Adlington will be written with urgency, and will be published.”

Cllr Linda Buchanan said:

“With 150,000 children in temporary accommodation and 1.3 million households on social housing waiting lists we understand the pressures facing families and individuals for suitable and affordable housing, but Adlington just isn’t the best location for a new town. We welcome the Labour government’s ambition to build 1.5 million affordable homes.”