Cheshire East Councillors, Parish Councillors, residents, and local businesses have reacted with fury and disbelief to government plans for a vast new town of up to 20,000 homes in Adlington.
The Government’s New Towns Taskforce has identified 12 national sites for new settlements, describing them as “successful new communities, with lasting positive economic and social impacts both in the locations themselves, but also within their wider regions.”
But for Adlington and its neighbours – Poynton, Pott Shrigley, Bollington, Prestbury, and Wilmslow – the announcement has landed like a thunderbolt. As apparently the local councils were not consulted before learning through the national release that their green fields had been earmarked for a huge development that could transform the area forever.
The Labour government has chosen Adlington village as one of 12 locations in England to build a New Town. This week Belport, the company that purchased the 1,921 acre Adlington Estate, sent notification to Adlington residents that Adlington is to be in Phase 1 of the Government’s National New Towns Programme. The new town will consist of around 20,000 new houses of which 40% will be social housing.
Shock and Anger Among Local Representatives
The news has provoked outrage among Cheshire East Councillors and local representatives in Poynton, who are demanding answers as to why they were excluded from discussions. The scale of the proposal – between 14,000 and 20,000 homes on nearly 1,000 hectares of greenfield land – could bring a population of around 60,000 people and erase 2,400 acres of Green Belt countryside.
For context, Macclesfield’s entire built-up area covers 2,100 acres – smaller than the land now being considered for Adlington New Town.
Poynton Town Council immediately issued a statement warning that, although outside its boundary, the proposed development would have “a significant impact on Poynton.”
Local MP Tim Roca also voiced strong opposition, condemning the plans as “a scheme that would inflict significant, large-scale, and irreversible harm on our cherished Green Belt.” He called instead for investment in brownfield land and urban regeneration sites.
Despite the Taskforce’s claims of widespread support in other areas, in Adlington the response has been one of shock and anger. Councils, residents, and campaigners say they have been blindsided by a decision with enormous consequences for local infrastructure, countryside, and community life.
The Cheshire Wildlife Trust has also urged ministers to think again, warning that the development would place an unsustainable strain on wildlife and the wider countryside. They described Cheshire and Warrington as already “one of the most nature-depleted areas in the UK,” and argued that “the scale of the proposed new town is not sustainable in this location.”
The Government’s Position
In its report, the Taskforce insists that Adlington is strategically located to benefit the economies of both Cheshire and Greater Manchester, highlighting the region’s life sciences sector and other innovation assets.
Taskforce Chair Sir Michael Lyons defended the proposals, saying the group had engaged extensively with landowners, housing providers, designers, and investors. He emphasised that new towns could take different forms, from urban extensions to remodelling city centres, but should always have “a clear and distinct identity.” He also argued that dedicated development corporations would be the best way to deliver such towns, giving them the power to acquire land, plan infrastructure, and manage delivery.
A Fight Ahead
For Adlington, however, the government’s vision of a “new community” has so far only united opposition. Parish and Town Councils across the area have pledged to work together with Cheshire East Councillors and local MPs to ensure residents’ voices are heard.
So, what next? We have a government intent on building new homes at scale, versus local communities determined to defend their countryside, their Green Belt, and their say in the future of their towns.
Find out more about the team behind Adlington New Town here.
What do you think? Let us know – email here.
Field of sheep photo: The copyright on this image is owned by Roger Kidd and is licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license.
Reader’s Comments:
“I find this absolutely unbelievable. This government are determined to trample on communities with their building plans. It seems that the only people they have listened to so far regarding the above development are those with a profit making vested interest. Why were the local councils and residents not consulted? Because they know that this development will be rejected. I live on the Redrow development which is also threatened with hundreds of extra houses. Apart from a school which is already over- subscribed and a pub, there has been no infrastructure put in place. We have had a lot of promises over the years but so far they have not been fulfilled. Also the surrounding area already has several house building projects in the pipeline which amount to thousands of new homes. The A555 is already an extremely busy road so where will all the extra traffic go – it will cause mayhem everywhere.
A new town of 20,000 houses in Adlington will swamp this area, destroy green belt and incoming residents will have no hope of doctors, dentists or any of the infrastructure needed for a development of this size.Let’s hope this ridiculous plan does not go ahead ? ” via email
“The site at Adlington will simply fill in between Poynton, Bollington, Macclesfield and Prestbury.
This is not a new town it’s purely an extension of subs from Manchester. Our country is losing small towns and villages which have farmland between them. The individual space between these settlements is what gives a sense of home. Macclesfield has over the last few years has been losing its high street vibe and needs more regeneration. The government are taking green space to build because it’s easier! They are letting these shell companies to take advantage of their desperation to build to make huge amounts of money which isn’t even British companies.” Lin Wilbraham
“As a resident effected by the new town plan I am astonished to hear that it is belport and its cronies that have put this dream forward. My concern is not only that our area has been earmarked by massive corporate interests that would love to turn £26m of pasture land and grazing into a lucrative £1Billion minimum just to turn the pasture land into building land plus a further £3billion + in building work
BUT with the promise of green and blue areas NO promises of any infrastructure from these massive profits. My other concern that if this dream goes ahead and we use GREEN BELT to build on WHAT stops corporations hungry for profit buying more farm land and destroying more communities in the name of progress for a government that can’t deliver on anything.
Obviously money talks to those chosen to make us prosperous.
– We are talking about 20,000 homes each with at least 1 car
– A minimum of 2 people may have children
– And green and blue spaces around Adlington hall
So Transport links:
– it takes me around 30-40mins to the M6 which is down single lanes
– Normally takes 30mins to 1 hour to city centre Manchester without any more traffic on the crumbling roads
– 2 small train stations = blink and you miss them
– London road = Rush hour is a joke
– Poynton = Rush hour is a joke
– A555= as long as it doesn’t rain and close is a joke
– A34 OMG rush hour
– Bonis hall lane = without a smash or cyclists and tractors
THEN we have care
– Macc general can’t cope
– What doctors don’t have a waiting list
– Get a dentist??
– Primary schools plural (how many children?)
– Secondary schools =where?
WATER
SEWAGE
ELECTRIC
INTERNET comes from skylink
GAS??
ROADS
BUSES???
More than 1 train per hour??
People love the rural way of life
The septic tank
Power cuts 4 times a year
The fact the cows and sheep produce food and milk
WHO REALLY LOOKED AT THIS DREAM OR IS IT REALLY MONEY TALKING?” Robert Dagnall
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