The draft Handforth Town Strategy, which sets out a Vision for what the town should look like by 2030 is now available to view.
The document has been put together by Cheshire East Council, who have been working with interested parties from the local community. The aim of the document is to set out a draft strategic view for the residents of Handforth of how Handforth could be developed up to 2030.
Once finalised, the town strategy will feed into the Cheshire East Local Plan, which will set planning policies in Cheshire East to 2030.
During 2011, Cheshire East Council carried out the Place Shaping Consultation which sought the views of residents, workers, visitors and shoppers on what they most liked about their town and what they wanted to see improved. Following this the Council has been working with the local community to develop this draft Strategy to guide the future planning of Handforth.
Two workshops were held with a panel of stakeholders including local community organisations, local businesses and local residents to discuss how the Town Strategy should meet the future needs of the town to make it an even better place over the next 20 years.
As a result of these discussions the draft Handforth Town Strategy has been produced which was approved for consultation purposes at a meeting of Handforth Parish Council on 6th August.
It has been published for consultation to seek the views of the local community, businesses and other stakeholders on issues such as the economy, district centre, housing, community and services, environment and sustainability, transport and connectivity.
The draft town strategy also identifies a number of potential areas within and adjacent to Handforth, that may offer opportunities for growth and development in the future. No decisions have been made about the suitability of these areas and it is not intended that all areas will be developed in order to achieve the vision for Handforth.
The Council is interested to hear the views of everyone including residents, businesses, community groups and all other stakeholders on the advantages or disadvantages of these potential development areas and their possible uses in the future.
The Core Strategy Issues and Options paper in 2010 identified that Handforth would need to accommodate up to 600 new homes during the 20 years between 2010 and 2030, and enough employment land to meet the needs of the area. Taking into account the homes already built since 2010, the number of new homes with planning permission, and small brownfield sites in Handforth that could provide up to 27 new dwellings by 2030, there would be a need to find new sites to accommodate up to around 500 new homes.
An exhibition will be held at Handforth Library from 31st August to 1st October 2012. Copies of the questionnaire and the draft Handforth Town Strategy document can be obtained from Handforth library and they can also be viewed on the Council's website at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/localplan.
Questionnaires must be returned by Monday 1st October 2012.
For further information email [email protected] or call 01270 685 893.
