A HIGH Court judge has thrown out an appeal against Cheshire East Council’s newly-adopted Local Plan.

The plan, which will help shape development in the borough through to 2030 through allocated strategic sites, was adopted in July last year after years of effort.

Muller Strategic Projects – a housebuilder which wants to build a 1,000-home ‘Nantwich South development in Stapeley – had appealed against the plan, claiming it was void due to ‘shortcomings’ in air quality data.

But the claim was dismissed by the High Court, which found it to be ‘not arguable’ that irregular data had affected the selection of sites and distribution of development in the plan.

Cllr Ainsley Arnold, CEC cabinet member for housing, planning and regeneration, said: “I am delighted that the court has found in our favour and that the challenge to our local plan has been dismissed.

“We were convinced that acknowledged shortcomings in parts of our air quality data had no bearing on the Local Plan – and this view has now been confirmed by the court.

“We can now proceed with certainty to properly plan for the new homes, jobs and infrastructure this borough needs – whilst ensuring we have strong policies to protect the character and quality of our local environment.”