WBC have used standard method for assessing local housing need as a target instead of a starting point. Plan implies a sufficient brownfield land supply is available to support a 14 1/2 year building programme - removing the need for Green Belt release beyond the first decade of the plan.

Plan is not sound. Greater focus needed on town centre and brownfield regeneration - immediate Green Belt release will divert investment from town centre. Plan will increase already unacceptable pollution levels. Plan sacrifices green spaces in South Warrington without valid reasoning - harmful to environment; damaging to character of villages and unsustainable in light of climate emergency. Plan is inadequate in terms of infrastructure to support proposals. To progress the plan now is not sound, given the government?s latest comments regarding the protection of the greenbelt and the ending of housing targets.