Residents on Edge as Future of ‘Idyllic’ Cheshire Countryside Remains Uncertain
The picturesque rolling hills and productive farmland of Adlington, a village nestled on the fringes of the Peak District, has narrowly escaped being designated as a site for a new government-backed town. However, the relief felt by local residents and tenant farmers is tempered by lingering anxiety, as the landowner, Belport, has yet to reveal its future intentions for the expansive estate.
What was once a looming threat of a large-scale new town development, which sparked a vigorous campaign involving three protest groups, opposition from local councils, and the area’s Member of Parliament, has now subsided. The government’s recent announcement confirmed that Adlington would not be among the seven new towns to be developed in the coming years. This decision followed strong arguments from campaigners who highlighted the area’s unsuitability due to its distance from essential public services, poor public transport links, and its vital role as productive pastureland for dairy and beef cattle, as well as sheep. These farms are estimated to produce a significant 4.5 million litres of milk annually, a key point in the residents’ successful plea.
Despite this victory, the community remains on tenterhooks. Andrew Rowe, 51, a business director and a key organiser of the “Stop Adlington New Town” campaign, expressed the mixed emotions: “When the news landed that we had been removed from the list, we jumped for joy. Now, we are back to the reality that we need to keep an eye on what Belport may pivot to next.”
Gerald Hartley, 72, a local business owner, echoed this sentiment, stating that locals are “trying to best guess Belport’s next move” for the land, which he affectionately describes as “idyllic.” Bridget Wenham, 80, another dedicated campaigner, pointed out the lack of transparency from the landowner. “We haven’t heard from them since before Christmas and there has only been one consultation event. We’ve never seen their full plans for how the new town would have been built,” she noted.
For tenant farmers, the situation remains particularly precarious. Alex Kelsall, 31, a cattle farmer whose 150-acre family farm was potentially under threat of compulsory purchase, shared his concerns. “We’re now secure, but it’s the tenants whose future is still uncertain, and it’s still a very worrying time,” he explained. “Belport own the estate, and they are going to want a return on their investment.” Kelsall, who manages a farm passed down through generations and tends to 80 cows, added, “Some of the tenants have had their farms for generations. They have livestock, and they still need some clarity.”
The community learned of Adlington’s exclusion from the new town list through media reports, rather than direct communication from the government or the landowner. This lack of direct engagement fuels their apprehension. Residents fear that Belport may still pursue housing developments, potentially focusing on executive homes, on several of the 15 farms where tenancies are nearing their end.
Adding to the unease is a recent decision by a planning inspector that permitted an appeal for 540 new homes on adjacent green belt land at the “garden village” development on Woodford Aerodrome, situated just north of Adlington. This sets a precedent that could influence future decisions regarding the Adlington estate.
The Case for Preserving Cheshire’s Green Belt
Mr. Hartley articulated a widely held view among residents: “There’s a need for new housing, but it’s got to be in the right place with the correct facilities and the right sort of housing.” He elaborated on why Adlington is not that place: “We moved here 25 years ago specifically because it’s in open countryside. It’s designated as green belt and is highly productive farmland. It’s an area everyone admires as they pass through it. The green belt exists to prevent urban sprawl. If developers were allowed to do what they want and ignore brownfield sites, we wouldn’t have any countryside left.”
Aysha Hawcutt, a mother of two, forcefully stated, “I don’t see what’s wrong to say that they should leave the area as it is.” She advocates for new homes to be constructed in existing urban areas like Stockport and Macclesfield, which possess the necessary infrastructure and services.
The logistical challenges of Adlington are significant. The area is served by a single-carriageway A-road that already experiences heavy congestion, a train station with only one service per hour in each direction, and a limited number of school places. Historically, development in the vicinity has been small-scale, such as a recent project on a former garage in Whiteley Green.
Biodiversity and Food Production: More Than Just Empty Fields
Campaigners also highlighted the rich biodiversity of the area, which is home to deer, badgers, hedgehogs, various rodents, lapwings, and an impressive 200 species of moths. Bridget Wenham emphasized, “Green fields are not empty land. They’re growing grass for the animals to produce food for the country to eat.” While acknowledging that if Belport proceeds with housing on some farms, residents will have recourse through the standard planning process, which allows for public representation, they draw a stark contrast to the new town proposal, which would have been decided by the Secretary of State.
Melanie Paul further underscored the importance of the land’s agricultural output. “There’s a lot of working farmland producing an awful lot of food, including 4.5 million litres of milk,” she stated. “Being able to produce our own food is important. I don’t think we should lose that to build more homes.” Mrs. Wenham, a resident of Adlington for 21 years, described the area as “lovely” but expressed concern that the new town plans would not have addressed the shortage of smaller or affordable homes, noting that the proposed housing would have been unaffordable and unsuitable for those looking to downsize.
The campaigners have lauded the unwavering support of their local Labour MP, Tim Roca. “He has been opposed all the way through and has given us fantastic representation,” remarked Mr. Hartley.
The sentiment against building a new town in Adlington extended beyond local residents. In the wider North West, even proponents of new housing development expressed dismay, suggesting that new towns should be located closer to areas with significant housing shortages, such as Greater Manchester and other large urban centres. Gerald Cooney, a former Greater Manchester Labour council leader and election agent for Angela Rayner, who championed the new towns agenda, criticised Adlington’s proposed location, suggesting it was chosen to maximise developer profits. He had previously stated, “If you were building a new town in this area, you don’t need it there. They are making a lot of money out of it, that’s why they’re doing it there.”
Belport’s Statement: A Glimmer of Hope, or a Continued Threat?
In response to the government’s decision, Belport issued a statement acknowledging the government’s selection of seven new towns and their assessment of Adlington as a “credible development opportunity.” The company stated, “Adlington remains a viable proposition that can deliver homes for Cheshire and the North West alongside infrastructure and amenities. We look forward to further engagement and are ready to assist Government and the region in delivering new home ambitions.” This statement leaves the door ajar for future housing proposals, maintaining the uncertainty for the Adlington community.
