Workshop on new Local Plan

Knutsford Town Council is inviting the community to help shape its response to the first consultation on a new local plan for Cheshire East.

The Local Plan is a major strategic plan that guides development across the borough. The current (2010-2030) plan allocated over 900 houses to be built in Knutsford. Cheshire East Council is now consulting on “issues” for its new local plan which would set out development needs across Cheshire East for a further 15+ years.

Cheshire East Council has published 13 topic based issues papers covering rural matters, homes for everyone, towns and villages, historic environment, transport and infrastructure and more.

These documents can be read on the Cheshire East Council website at: 

https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/planning/spatial-planning/cheshire_east_local_plan/new-local-plan.aspx.

Cheshire East Council’s consultation closes on 1^st July.

To inform the Town Council’s response to the consultation, the Town Council is hosting a workshop where residents, businesses and other stakeholders are invited to discuss the topics and what is important for Knutsford. This takes place on Wednesday 5^th June at 7pm in St John’s Church.

The evening will see the community discuss seven of the topics each in 15-minute rounds with each topic facilitated by the Town Council to capture everyone’s input. The output of the workshop will then shape the Town Council’s response to the consultation which it will agree in late June.

Town Clerk Adam Keppel-Green said:

“The Local Plan is an incredibly important document that will determine how Knutsford develops over the coming years. It is vital that we, as a community, are switched on to the local plan process and play an active role in shaping this plan from this first stage all the way through to the end”

“The objective of this workshop is to engage more people in the local plan process and for you to inform the Town Council’s own submission to the consultation. We know this isn’t the most exciting way to spend a Wednesday evening, but it is important and as a Town we have to be actively engaged in the whole local plan process ”

Attendees are encouraged to read the topic papers published by Cheshire East Council for the areas they are interested in discussing, though each topic will be facilitated by the Town Council to enable all to participate and share their views.

The meeting will run from 7pm to 9:30pm. Refreshments will be provided.

The community is also encouraged to respond to the consultation directly with Cheshire East Council.