Town centre living in Macclesfield

A second statuary period of public consultation is about to get under way to seek the views of local people on a long-term council vision aimed at promoting town-centre living in Macclesfield.

With Cheshire East Council committed to prioritising brownfield development, where possible, the authority is seeking views on the adoption of two local development orders (LDO) and the evidence base gathered to support these.

Residential-led  LDOs were introduced by central government to stimulate redevelopment of brownfield sites and enable local authorities to make certain town centre schemes more attractive to prospective developers.

Currently, the Whalley Hayes and Northside areas of the town centre are identified as locations where local development orders (LDOs) could be progressed. If approved they would streamline the planning process for applicants as much of the routine technical work normally carried out by the developer would be completed by the council instead, in order to simplify the application.

The local development order would give property owners within the zone the opportunity to bring forward their land for new housing schemes on the basis that planning consent would be pre-determined in principle.  The local development order would expire after five years.

The statutory consultation period is to sound out the opinions of Macclesfield residents, businesses, ward councillors and stakeholders and this will take place over four weeks, beginning on March 29 until April 28.  Documents prepared to support the  LDOs are available to view on our website.

The consultation will include two drop-in events to be held at Macclesfield Town Hall on April 4 and Macclesfield Library on April 25. All comments and feedback received during consultation will be considered.  Any decision to adopt the  LDO process must then go before the council’s strategic planning board.

Councillor Ainsley Arnold, cabinet member for housing and planning said: “This is the second phase in a consultation process and we do hope that Macclesfield residents and businesses will give us their feedback and engage with us in this important exercise.

The council has set up a dedicated email address for people who wish to find out more or register their interest in attending one of the drop-in sessions: macclesfieldldos@cheshireeast.gov.uk