Cheshire East backs Willaston to create a neighbourhood plan

Cheshire East Council is backing Willaston’s efforts to prevent unsustainable and unplanned development.

The Council Leader, Councillor Michael Jones, has agreed to designate the parish as the area that will be covered by the Willaston Neighbourhood Plan.

Neighbourhood plans enable local people to have a say in the development they would like to see in the area where they live.

Willaston Parish Council, which covers a largely rural area with a population of 2,277 situated in the green gap between Crewe and Nantwich, applied for the designation in March.

Once completed, the plan will be adopted by Cheshire East Borough Council and form part of the development plan for the Borough.

The policies in the Willaston Neighbourhood Plan will be used for decision making purposes when planning applications are determined.

Councillor Jones said: “Neighbourhood plans enable residents to develop policies to address those planning matters that affect their interests and well being.

“They allow communities to take ownership of planning policy which directly affects their lives.

“Neighbourhood plans are a key part of putting residents first, one of the Council’s most important priorities, and we fully support communities in putting them in place.”

More than 20 Neighbourhood Plan areas have been designated in Cheshire East.  Two have lodged applications for designation and 30 more parishes have expressed an interest.