"We the undersigned believe that proposed changes to the planning system outlined in the Government’s ‘Planning for the Future’ and ‘Changes to the Current Planning System’ White Papers take us further away, not closer, to addressing flaws in the current system.

Our concerns can be summarised as follows:

1.       The plans will remove local accountability and undermine democracy by taking power away from local communities and decision makers – leaving it instead to an unaccountable algorithm. It is vital that decisions about the number and types of houses being built in our communities are taken locally, and that those responsible for decisions are accountable to residents.

2.       The proposals will make it easier for developers to circumvent affordable housing obligations due to the proposed exemption of developments under 50 dwellings from this requirement. We desperately need more genuinely affordable houses, not less.

3.       The proposals leave Cheshire East exposed to potential huge increases in developments and speculative housing applications. The current housing requirement in Cheshire East is calculated at 1,068. However, under the proposed algorithm this would jump 67% to 1,774.

We accept that the current system is flawed, but the consequence of these changes will inevitably be to benefit the market and property speculators rather than our communities.

We are urging you, as our MP, to lobby the government on this matter."