Alderley Edge residents will have the opportunity to speak about the future development of the village over the next month.
Following a review by an independent planning inspector, a referendum will be held on Thursday May 6th asking residents whether the Cheshire East Council should officially adopt the Alderley Edge Neighborhood Development Plan (AENDP).
An independent group of Alderley Edge residents began creating the Alderley Edge Neighborhood Development Plan in 2016. The process involved various consultations with residents of the village and organizations that influenced the policy and the development content of the plan.
The plan includes planning guidelines and efforts to develop the village. When approved, it becomes a planning policy document that will be taken into account in determining planning requests at Alderley Edge alongside the local plan for Cheshire East and national planning guidelines.
Councilor Sarah Greenwood said: “We are delighted that the plan is now moving to a referendum. His policies will allow the local community to influence future development and protect the character of our village. We are in the process of making the changes to the plan recommended by the external auditor.
“The changes Cheshire East Council made to its own draft local plan are affecting the neighborhood plan. The biggest change is that we no longer have to give up Green Belt land to have more homes around The developments on Ryleys Lane, Beech Road and Jenny Heyes have been removed from this plan, although a scaled-down program on Ryleys Farm could be revitalized after 2030 as the land is secured for future development.
“Although the protection of the green belt is to be welcomed, it means that no land is available for creating additional parking spaces for the village. Existing recreational areas (e.g. allotments, playing fields, etc.) that are designated for parking should be available elsewhere in the village, and this could have been achieved by releasing land from the green belt for housing and leisure, it is important to recognize that there is a trade-off between protecting the green belt and providing more parking space.
“After the hard work of everyone involved in bringing the plan this far, I hope that the village will continue to support the plan and participate in the upcoming referendum.”
On election day, Thursday 6 May, the polling stations are open between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Covid-safe precautions, similar to those found in stores and banks, are in place, such as hand sanitizer, floor markings, and face masks, so voters can vote safely.
When visiting polling stations, voters should wear face covering (unless they have a valid exemption), bring their own pencil or pen, follow signs and instructions from staff and keep social distance.
Tags: Alderley Edge neighborhood map