12 Middlewich

12 Middlewich

National policy

12.1 There is a legal requirement through the ‘duty to cooperate’, requiring constructive engagement between Cheshire West and Chester Council and Cheshire East Council on strategic cross-boundary matters.

12.2 The NPPF under ‘maintaining effective cooperation’ (NPPF, paragraphs 24-28) requires effective strategic planning across boundaries to address housing, infrastructure and other needs.

Evidence base

Key issues

  • Middlewich falls within Cheshire East but the built-up area is tightly enclosed to the east, west and north by the borough boundary with Cheshire West and Chester.
  • Ensuring duty to cooperate and effective cross boundary strategic planning in advance of the Cheshire and Warrington combined authority Strategic Development Strategy being prepared.
  • With different timelines for local plan preparation (the Cheshire West and Chester Local Plan is currently ahead of preparation of a new plan for Cheshire East) how can the future needs of Middlewich be met.
  • Infrastructure planning in relation to completing the Middlewich eastern bypass, improvements to the link between Winsford/Middlewich and M6 (A54) and reopening of Northwich – Sandbach line for passenger services with a new station at Middlewich.
  • The current Local Plan allocated a site at Kinderton Lodge for landfill and this site was granted planning permission and initial works were undertaken.  However, the site did not become operational and the permission has now lapsed, potentially indicating insufficient market demand for landfill within Cheshire West and Chester (see section 29 ‘Managing waste’)

Map 12.1 Middlewich area and key constraints (View full image)

Map of Middlewich settlement highlighting flood risk, conservation areas, open spaces, local wildlife, and SSSI sites.

Current adopted policy

Local Plan

Policy reference

Policy summary

Local Plan (Part One)

STRAT
7 Middlewich

Policy states work closely Cheshire East to meet the future needs of Middlewich and if necessary, allocate land through Local Plan (Part Two). Supports improvements to A54 between M6 Junction 18 and Winsford.

Local Plan (Part Two)

STRAT
10 Transport and accessibility

Minimise the need to travel by locating development accessible to local services by a range of transport modes, improve public transport facilities, include adequate car and cycle parking provision, support town centres and maximise sustainable low carbon forms of transport. Safeguard current and disused transport corridors, infrastructure and freight movement opportunities and supports the re-opening of Northwich to Sandbach line to passenger traffic including re-opening of the Middlewich Station.

Local Plan (Part Two)

T
1 Local road network improvement schemes

Identifies improvements to the link between Winsford/ Middlewich and the M6 as a priority local road network schemes.

Suggested policy approach

12.3 Middlewich is identified as a key service centre in the Cheshire East local plan with a planned provision of 75 hectares of employment land and 1,950 new homes between 2010 and 2030. The plan supports the reopening of the Sandwich to Northwich rail line for passenger services and the opening of station at Middlewich. 

12.4 Land off Holmes Chapel Road Middlewich (‘Cheshire Fresh’) largely in Cheshire West was granted planning permission for employment and other uses. The site is adjacent to the Midpoint 18 business park in Cheshire East that is allocated for employment-led development in the adopted Cheshire East Local Plan. A train station is planned as part of “Brooks Lane” Strategic Location LPS 43 (identified within the Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy 2010-2030), is located approximately 1km to the south-west of the site. 

12.5 The Middlewich Eastern Bypass (“MEB”) (a new two-way single carriageway road) will run through the southern portion of the site. The MEB will extend to 2.5 km and connect a new roundabout junction off Pochin Way in the north to a new roundabout junction to the south, connecting with the A533 Booth Lane. The MEB is proposed in the Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy and is ready to be delivered subject to final funding decisions, including funding support from the government 

12.6 Other sites have been put forward for future allocation through the land availability assessment and these are shown in the map at the end of the section. Comments on these sites are welcome.

MI 1

Middlewich

Take a pragmatic approach to avoid delays to plan-making to enable land in Cheshire West to meet future needs in Middlewich.

Continue close working and collaboration with Cheshire East in relation to future development needs and infrastructure.

Map 12.2 Land availability assessment site submissions and Cheshire East Local Plan strategic location (View full image)

Map of the Middlewich settlement showing land availability assessment site submissions and Cheshire East Local Plan strategic locations. Employment sites are highlighted in blue, housing sites in pink, mixed-use sites in purple, and other uses (such as waste) in brown.

Question MI 1

Do you agree with the suggested policy approach towards Middlewich, as set out in MI 1 ‘Middlewich’ above? If not please suggest how it could be amended?

Question MI 2

What issues should be considered through the Cheshire West and Chester Local Plan to ensure the future needs of Middlewich are properly considered?

Question MI 3

With the Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East Local Plans currently on different timelines, how can any potential future needs for Middlewich be met?

Question MI 4

Could land be safeguarded to be released for development, if a need was established through the Cheshire East Local Plan? 

Question MI 5

What approach should be taken to the ‘Cheshire Fresh’ site and do you have any comments on other land put forward for future allocation around Middlewich?