Adlington New Town not going ahead, but the threat of development remains

We welcome the Government’s decision not to proceed with a New Town centered on the rural village of Adlington, but warn that the area is now under threat from alternative development proposals.

CPRE campaigns for a brownfield first approach to housebuilding that regenerates urban areas and provides appropriate infrastructure plus sustainable travel options from the start.

“The listing of Adlington as a potential New Town of up to 20,000 homes was completely illogical and did not make sense on any level,” says CPRE Cheshire Chair, Jonathan Clarke.

“This development would have destroyed 1,000 hectares of productive agricultural land set in Green Belt adjoining the Peak District National Park. The area is completely rural, and rich in wildlife. It has no supporting infrastructure, is riddled with former coal mining shafts and seams, and is prone to flooding.

It is therefore welcome news that the New Town proposal is not being taken forward. However, the battle to protect Adlington is far from over.

The Government announcement states that Adlington is still a “credible option for development” which “may be supported through existing housing programmes”. Belport – the promoters of Adlington New Town – are quoted in Macclesfield Nub News as saying that they “look forward to further engagement and are ready to assist government and the region in delivering new home ambitions.”

The risk now is that the area will be subject to huge development pressures, resulting in large scale housing estates being built without infrastructure to support them.

This could ultimately lead to the same impact on the countryside as would have happened with the New Town proposals, extending the Greater Manchester conurbation deep into Cheshire East, and replacing countryside between towns and villages with urban sprawl.

Urban areas must be the priority for development. We can, for example, support the plans for a New Town at Manchester Victoria North, subject to the new homes being well-designed and built to high environmental standards. The area is much in need of regeneration and an economic uplift. Covering over 155 hectares of mainly brownfield land in Collyhurst, Irk Valley and New Cross, a New Town here could provide well-connected new communities with homes, jobs, schools, green space and good transport links.

The decision to include Adlington in the list of potential New Towns caused immense dismay across the region. CPRE Cheshire worked alongside local town and parish councils, community groups and the MP for Macclesfield, Tim Roca, to campaign against the proposals. CPRE Cheshire actions included sending a report to ministers entitled ‘Why, on earth, Adlington?’ outlining the arguments against the proposal.

In addition, national CPRE CEO Roger Mortlock wrote to Steve Reed, the secretary of state for Housing, Communities and Local Government, expressing serious concerns.

Cheshire East Council voted unanimously to oppose the New Town, and a petition to parliament launched by Tim Roca gained nearly 19,000 signatures.

A public consultation has now been launched covering both the sites selected for New Town status and the alternatives from the shortlist, including Adlington. (New Towns Draft Programme Consultation – Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – Citizen Space)

CPRE’s New Towns Done Well report sets out a series of principles for successful New Towns that meet the needs of both people and nature.

More information

Opposing the Adlington New Town proposals – our Adlington information hub