RESIDENTS will have the opportunity to have their say on proposed local plan changes in a new 12-week public consultation.

Cheshire West’s leadership approved the launch of the consultation at Wednesday’s (January 13) cabinet meeting.

The consultation is required after a raft of recommended changes have been suggested to the local plan, which is a blueprint for development in the borough, by the council’s overview and scrutiny committee.

A cabinet report reveals the recommendations include ‘that officers ensure that [Covid-19] recovery plans for the borough focus on greener industry/employment’, ‘that officers assess whether UN standards could be localised to create a ‘standards plan’ for the borough’, and ‘that officers approach ward councillors when considering larger applications within their wards so that they may provide further evidence on local infrastructure needs for officers’.

Along with the recommendations, the overview and scrutiny committee asked that residents be consulted on the changes as part of an ‘early conversation’ on reforms.

The report added: “A key element of the proposed response is a local plan public consultation exercise (for 12 weeks) which will pick up on the key themes emerging from the Scrutiny review in terms of climate emergency; poverty and health. 

“This will take the form of an ‘early conversation’ with residents and stakeholders, using the council’s consultation platforms. 

“As well as responding to the issues raised through the Scrutiny review there will also be the opportunity to comment on whether policies in the adopted local plans require amendment. This will assist the Council in understanding whether Local Plan policies should be updated and the scope of that update.”

Council consultations are hosted on CWAC’s website.