WILMSLOW residents have voted to adopt their town's neighbourhood plan at referendum.

Residents went to the polls on Thursday to vote on whether or not to adopt the plan – and the result was a resounding ‘yes’.

Wilmslow residents voted to adopt their neighbourhood plan by 3,109 votes to 367, with a turnout of 17.59 per cent.

The neighbourhood plans are designed to give residents a voice on the type of development they would like to see in their towns.

They work in conjunction with CEC’s local plan and are given weight by the council and the planning inspectorate when applications are being considered.

Parishes with neighbourhood plans that qualify to receive developer contributions through the Community Infrastructure Levy scheme also receive a higher rate – at 25 per cent, rather than 15 per cent elsewhere.

Following the result, Cllr Mark Goldsmith, Cheshire East Council and Wilmslow Town Council member for Wilmslow West, said: “I’m pleased the neighbourhood plan has been adopted.

“I think it is good for the town, it gives it a bit more protection against development and hopefully there will be more money coming into the town from future developments as well.

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“I think the people that have worked on the plan have done an excellent job and now it is up to Wilmslow Town Council to take it forward and to try and enact as much of it as possible.”