The following statement was resolved as the position of the Council at the meeting held on Monday 1st September 2025.
1 Purpose
To secure a clear, consistent and constructive approach when responding to large-scale planning applications within the parish, for example Crewe North (Muller Property) and Sydney Road (Seddon).
2.Recommended Resolution
Haslington Parish Council adopts the following formal position on major residential developments within the parish:
a) The council recognises that well planned growth can deliver community benefit when essential infrastructure is delivered and aligned with the housing being built.
b) The council will not submit blanket objections where approval is probable; instead, responses will focus on securing viable schemes that provide proportionate and timely investment in health, education and highways infrastructure.
c) The Planning Committee will assess all major applications against the principles detailed in this resolution and to negotiate with applicants and the local planning authority to secure commitments that meet those principles. The Council will support applications as appropriate to support a conducive relationship whilst seeking the best possible infrastructure enhancements for the Parish.
d) Until a planning application is submitted, the Council will remain impartial and will not form its final view until all relevant information has been considered.
e) The Parish Council will clarify and promote the role of the Parish Council as detailed in Appendix A.
3. Rationale
- Past experience: Repeated objections have rarely altered approvals. A constructive stance offers greater influence.
- Statutory role: As a consultee the parish should facilitate good planning rather than oppose development in principle.
- Community concern: Objections are driven by perceived infrastructure deficits, focusing on the actual issues and having a constructive seat at the table increases credibility with residents.
4. Infrastructure and Sustainability Principles
a) Health – demonstrate that primary care capacity will meet NHS patient-to-GP ratios, with developer funding where necessary.
b) Education – secure places at existing or new schools so that local children are not displaced, including capital contributions through Section 106 or Community Infrastructure Levy.
c) Highways and Transport – deliver safe access, junction upgrades, traffic-calming and sustainable travel links that protect existing residents from congestion and road safety impacts.
d) Viability and Phasing – infrastructure must be delivered at an early stage or tied to occupation triggers that are legally enforceable.
e) Community Benefit – provide open space, biodiversity net gain and contributions to parish facilities proportionate to scheme size.
5. Implementation Steps
a) Publish the adopted position on the council website, social media channels and a resident leaflet.
b) Request information from Cheshire East Council Highways, NHS Cheshire and schools’ admissions officers to monitor infrastructure capacity.
c) Engage directly with applicants to negotiate the provisions available to address all infrastructure requirements.
6. Conclusion
Adopting this position will allow the parish council to move from reactive objection to proactive partnership, increasing the likelihood that essential infrastructure is delivered for both existing and new residents.
Appendix A
The Role of the Parish Council in Planning Matters
Haslington Parish Council recognises that its role in planning extends beyond commenting on individual applications. The council seeks to improve and enhance the lives and environment of the community it represents by contributing constructively to the planning process.
As part of its statutory role, the Parish Council exists to represent the best interests of its residents. This includes participating in consultations with developers and the local planning authority and influencing decisions they make relating to planning applications.
Recommendations from the Parish Council on a planning application must be consistent with statutory local development plans, including the Local Plan and, where available, the Neighbourhood Plan, otherwise they may carry little or no weight.
Under planning law, the local planning authority is required to notify the Parish Council of applications and to take its representations into account. This process differs from statutory consultation with organisations such as the Highway Authority, Environment Agency, or Historic England, as the Parish Council’s responsibilities are of a different nature.
While Parish Council representations are valued, they do not automatically carry more weight than those from members of the public and are generally afforded less weight than the observations of statutory consultees.
Representations can only be taken into account where they relate to material planning considerations. These do not include:
- Development already commenced before permission is granted (carried out at the applicant’s own risk)
- The applicant’s past record of unauthorised development
- Commercial or “trade” objections from potential competitors
- Moral objections to the nature of a proposed use (e.g., betting shops or amusement arcades)
- Speculation that the application is intended to increase the property’s value for sale
- Loss of a private view
- Concerns about potential reduction in property value
- The fact that the applicant does not own the land (which can be addressed by agreement with the landowner)
- An objector’s status as a tenant of the land concerned
- Allegations affecting private rights (e.g., covenants, maintenance obligations, ownership disputes, rights of way, or boundary matters) – these are private legal issues, often dealt with under the Party Wall Act
- Arguments of a personal nature relating to the applicant’s circumstances
By maintaining this approach, the Parish Council ensures that its contributions to the planning process are relevant, effective, and aligned with established planning policy.