The latest plans for the future of development in Cheshire East are to be discussed by councillors this week.

A revised draft of the borough's Site Allocations and Development Policies Document (SADPD) is up for debate, which forms the second part of the council's 'local plan' — the blueprint for development in the borough.

If the revised version is approved, then it will go to next week's CEC cabinet for final sign-off.

Controversially, the newest version SADPD maintains a preference for Middlewich's Cledford Hall for short-term travellers' stays.

CEC officials believe 'there are no other sites that perform better than this site' which can be put forward.

But Middlewich councillors warned CEC against the plans last year, and Cllr Jonathan Parry told the Guardian he would fight the plans 'tooth and nail'.

He added: "It is not about nimbyism – there are people from the travelling community that are against this. It is the wrong location entirely."

Other proposed changes in the report include the removal of some housing allocations in villages, due to 'significant overall housing supply in the borough'.

That extra supply of housing means CEC can no longer justify making further cuts to the borough's green belt, which had previously been proposed.

Additionally, the SADPD could also require all new major residential development to provide for at least 10 percent of its energy needs from on-site renewable or low carbon energy generation — and also require newbuild residential development to achieve a reduction in CO2 emissions 19 percent below current building regulations.

However, a report prepared by officers ahead of the meeting has questioned the viability of both proposals.

Houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) will now also only be permitted on the condition that the proportion of HMOs would not exceed ten percent of all residential properties within a 50m radius of an application site.

There are also updates on the borough's need for retail floorspace due to changing consumer habits and uncertainty following the coronavirus pandemic.

CEC's strategic planning board will meet on Friday, October 2, and the session will be streamed live on the council's website.