What is it?
Cheshire East currently has a consultation open which gives us an opportunity to influence the direction and scope of Cheshire East’s next Local Plan before detailed policies and site allocations are developed. It is the first formal stage of public engagement under the new planning system introduced by the 2026 regulations. The new plan is due to be completed in 2029 and it plans for development over the coming decades.
Save Danes Moss will be responding but we need all supporters to contribute themselves to help lend weight to the decision making. It is free to do and is really important in helping protect the moss for both nature and future generations.
IMPORTANT: this consultation is not for comments on specific sites nominated for development.
There will be a later consultation regarding the site selection. Don’t reference Danes Moss at this stage but reference things that would impact it’s selection such as ‘avoid peatlands to keep carbon stored to help address climate change’
The consultation is intended to get early views from residents and other stakeholders on:
- What the new Local Plan should contain, including its vision, objectives and strategic priorities.
- The key issues facing Cheshire East, including housing growth, infrastructure, community design and health.
- How to protect and enhance the built and natural environment.
- Supporting jobs and the local economy.
- Addressing climate change through the planning system.
- How development should be spatially distributed across Cheshire East.
- What evidence and sustainability assessments should underpin the plan.
- How the Council should engage with residents, businesses and other stakeholders as the plan is developed.
How can I have my say?
Key points here are:
- This is FREE to do
- It can take as little as a few minutes (but obviously if you spend a little longer you can create more impactful responses)
- More responses gives us more influence
- If you only have time for a quick comment, then make sure it is about no development on peat and surrounding buffer areas
This stage of the consultation has two main parts:
- Scoping consultation (sections 2–5) — the proposed scope of the Local Plan, including its timeframe, vision/objectives, distribution of development, policy areas, sustainability appraisal and evidence base.
- Engagement Strategy (section 6) — how and when the Council proposes to involve different groups during preparation of the plan.
The Cheshire East scoping consultation page can be accessed here: https://localplan.
The consultation ends at 5pm on 1 September 2026. Responses can be submitted online, by email (localplan@cheshireeast.gov.uk) or by post (Cheshire East Council (Strategic Planning Team), Delamere House, Delamere Street, Crewe CW1 2LL).
If you respond online then stick with it as you will need to create a Cheshire East account to start commenting.
If you have responded and think of something else to add you can log back in and update your response as needed up to the deadline.
Help on how to respond
Key points here are:
- Don’t copy and paste from this page, writing your own comments carries far more weight and are less easily dismissed
- As stated above, no need to mention Danes Moss at this stage as this is about the scope and criteria, consultation on specific sites will be undertaken in 2027
Here are some key topics/themes to include in response comments…
(it is not an exhaustive list, feel free to add your own as well)
Peatland
I am very concerned about climate change and what future generations will face. It is important that we safeguard all our natural carbon stores to try and reduce the releases of
additional CO2. This did not happen at Weaver Green – these emissions will have helped fuel climate change.
additional CO2. This did not happen at Weaver Green – these emissions will have helped fuel climate change.
Green Belt
One of the functions of Green Belt is to safeguard countryside from encroachment. Countryside is essential in maintaining connectivity between ecologically valuable areas and where this function is evident, land should not be classified as “Grey Belt”.
Environmental Issues
Make environmental protection and reversing biodiversity loss key considerations in decision making.
Irreplaceable Habitats
Do not destroy irreplaceable habitats. The term irreplaceable habitat is important as it is used in planning policy. It defines habitats that can not be easily created, so if we destroy them we lose them. They include ancient woodlands, lowland raised bogs (like Danes Moss) and very special grasslands full of wildflowers. Again, there really is no excuse……
Protect all wildlife sites
Whether they are defined locally (Local Wildlife Sites) or nationally, like Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and other areas of high biodiversity. Protection is not just on the land itself – but on neighbouring land too – as neighbouring land acts as a buffer and a potential wildlife corridor, giving the wildlife somewhere to go in the case of natural disasters including wildfires (something we know much more about after this summer’s events).
Local Nature Recovery Strategy
The Local Plan should be driven by the good work in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). If it doesn’t there is great risk that the biodiversity crisis is worsened and wildlife simply doesn’t have enough space to sustain itself in Cheshire East, this will lead to local extinctions and exacerbate national declines. We don’t want Cheshire East to end up a scattered collection of important sites with no wildlife corridors.
Green Space for All
Natural spaces on the edge of urban areas are great for biodiversity and they are also needed for recreation and mental well-being. They need to be preserved from development.
Flooding
Especially with the ongoing impact of climate change, avoiding flood risk should be an important factor in site selection
Challenge the required level of housing
Ask Cheshire East Council to challenge the 146% increase in housing. Is this really sustainable in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss?
Please contribute yourself to tell Cheshire East Council what you think is important – if we get this right then sites like Danes Moss will be protected by the process itself and we won’t need to battle in the later stages to fight potential development plans.
