CHESHIRE East’s proposed Local Plan is ‘flawed’, ‘inadequate’ and 'unduly pessimistic' – that’s the scathing verdict from a development plan inspector.

It’s not the first time the much-delayed housing plan has hit a snag, having undergone nine rounds of public consultation since 2010.

In his damning verdict, development plan inspector Stephen Pratt says the council has met the ‘minimum legal requirements of the duty to cooperate', and claims the economic strategy is ‘unduly pessimistic’.

Mr Pratt also says there are ‘shortcomings’ in the council’s objective assessment of housing needs, blasting the proposed level of future housing provision as ‘inadequate’.

He added: “The process and evidence relating to the proposed amendments to the Green Belt boundary in the north of the district seem flawed, particularly the release of sites from the Green Belt and the provision of Safeguarded Land.

“And there seems to be insufficient justification for establishing a new Green Belt in the south of the district.”

Leader of the council, Clr Michael Jones, described the report as ‘a regrettable situation’ and says his focus will now be on protecting the open countryside and the Green Belt from unplanned development.

He said: “This means more neighbourhood plans and some interim policies put in place, as well as communications with the Government, which have already begun, to ensure that Cheshire East Council’s Local Plan is brought to fruition as soon as possible.”

Ukip leader for Willaston and Rope ward, Clr Brian Silvester, said: “CEC have had over five years to get the Local Plan right and they have totally failed, just as they have failed to establish a five-year housing supply that isn’t overturned at appeal.

“Every time any concerns were brought up about the plan it was poo-poo’d. We were told ‘we have our best advisors on it’, but when it came to the crunch the inspector have torn it to shreds.

“If that’s not a reason for them [Clr Michael Jones and Clr David Brown] to step down, I don’t know what is.”

Clr Jones says he has 'absolutely no intention' to resign from his post, and maintains that he is still 'extremely proud' of the work he and his colleagues have put into the Local Plan.

“This is from a man who didn't resign when he was told he was a slum landlord in court," he said. 

"He should look in the mirror."

In his initial response, deputy leader of the council, Clr David Brown, said ‘the report outlines a number of areas that need clarification before the Local Plan can be officially ratified by the Planning Inspectorate’.

Clr Silvester branded the response as ‘pathetic’.

He said: “It is not clarification that is being called for, it is virtually a total rewrite. Cheshire East Council are lucky it was not thrown out altogether and told to start again.”