IT is three years since the consultation began on our Local Plan. So far, we have received 36,000 responses from members of the public about our draft proposals. This is an unprecedented amount of interest in a document that will be the blueprint for Cheshire East to the year 2030.

The Local Plan is a keystone for the future of the area and supports our number one priority, Jobs Led Growth. The plan has been developed to support the generation of jobs focused around the M6 corridor, for which we have received £800 million of central Government funding, but also ensures that the beauty and character of Cheshire East is retained.

This plan is about developing Cheshire East to maintain its reputation as the best place to live in the north west, whilst providing for our younger generation so they can live and work in the area they were born.

It is about the future, job availability, excellent educational standards and a great quality of life.

This plan, coupled with our five year housing supply, is also about protecting the residents of Cheshire East against unwanted, unsustainable and unplanned development.

Over the past three years, we have evaluated over 100 strategic sites to ensure sustainability.

Contained in this document is the final list of 37 proposed sites and nine strategic locations that we want to adopt. In arriving at these sites we have considered comments from the residents of Cheshire East, from Town and Parish Councils and from developers. Our plan has also been reviewed by central Government inspectors to ensure that it is robust and meets all statutory guidelines.

I believe it must be one of the most comprehensive and consulted Local Plans to have been produced. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed.

Some people will be pleased with the result and others will be unhappy, this plan has taken all views into consideration and I believe meets the requirements of Cheshire East residents both now and through to 2030.

This document is a key milestone in the process and any further representations/ comments will be collated and forwarded to the Government Planning Inspector for his consideration.

Following on from the submission of the Local Plan to the inspectorate our next task is to make site allocations for our small towns and villages. This will take the form of consultation with local Town and Parish Councils and voluntary organisations to ensure that we meet employment and housing requirements to meet local needs.

Clr David Brown Cheshire East Council Strategic Communities Portfolio Holder and Deputy Leader