‘Frustration’ at delays to development plans
A400-STRONG group calling for more grass roots involvement in development decisions have said they are ‘increasingly frustrated’ at delays in forming a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) for Macclesfield.
The Macclesfield Neighbourhood Plan group claim the town council has made ‘no progress’ in more than three years despite a £15,000 consultation commissioned on the matter concluding that it was potentially viable.
The group say a NDP for the parish of Macclesfield would provide its community with a platform to directly shape the area.
It has called for the town council to hold a public briefing and debate on the issue.
Macclesfield businessman Martin Smith is cofounder of the group and said: “The town council’s consultant report on creating an NDP for Macclesfield was completed last year.
“That document concluded there are clearly some issues which could be addressed through an NDP and some which could only be dealt with by other means.
“At the last meeting the council decided they want another briefing from NDP manager at Cheshire East Council, returning us to the start point we were at three years ago.
“We are increasing frustrated but have the aim of moving things forward.”
The Localism Act of 2011 was intended to devolve planning power to the community groups and individuals from local government.
An NDP has formal statutory weight and can be used to create planning policies and grant permission for development such as community led affordable housing and the protection of green space.
The group say the formation of a NDP is a ‘right’ that has been given by government and one that needs to be ‘seized with both hands’.
A spokesman for Macclesfield Town Council said a neighbourhood plan would have to work within policies set out by the existing Cheshire East Local Plan and could not overrule it on matters such as green belt development.
He added: “The aims and ambitions expressed in the consultation responses can inform local planning policy, which might be achieved through a Neighbourhood Plan, but could also be achieved through other methods.
“Councillors continue to consider the creation of a NDP as it will take a number of years and would be very expensive and it may be more time, resource and economically efficient to address the issues raised by residents through the implementation of appropriate local planning policies.
“The council is seeking advice to help clarify the most effective and efficient way forward to deliver the required actions, that will fit with the Local Plan.”