Volunteers and others on the Sandbach Neighbourhood Plan Working Group have pledged they are moving forward "as fast as possible with the complex document".

Sandbach Neighbourhood Plan Working Group started work in June 2025 on the Neighbourhood Plan from 2022 and presented a summary at the recent full council meeting of Sandbach Town Council.

They say they are striving to produce "an effective and robust Neighbourhood Plan that is up to date and can be approved by the Regulator".

And their hard work has been praised by its chair, Councillor Mike Muldoon, who apologised for delays and said he is "very proud of the working group".

A spokesperson said: "This has involved a lot of complex work against a background of planning uncertainties and challenges. Planning staff at Cheshire East Council have faced similar challenges.

"The Working Group has had useful ongoing dialogue with these planning staff throughout the last 15 months. On every occasion these meetings have been cordial.

"There are many factors that must be included before it can be assessed by an examiner/regulator. Any claim that this is not necessary is misleading and incorrect."

The group say they have come to the point on "several occasions" when it expected to conclude its work in drafting a plan for scrutiny by both CEC planners and the Town Council prior to the next stages in line with Regulation 14, only to find issues emerging beyond our control.

"These include the issue in July 2026 by Cheshire East of a new set of possible development opportunities following its Call for Sites Exercise 2026, and the issue by the Government of a new National Planning Policy Framework in August 2026 that had originally been expected much earlier in the year.

"The process of neighbourhood planning does involve detailed work over many months and must involve the generation of comprehensive policies, site allocations, housing needs assessments and housing supply targets, designations, analysis and justifications of local green spaces as well as many other factors.

"A neighbourhood plan is a substantial planning document covering a wide range of matters. The Sandbach plan contains numerous sections and requires a considerable amount of research, evidence, consultation and supporting information.

"For the plan to carry meaningful weight and provide effective protection and guidance for the town, it must be sufficiently comprehensive and robust to pass the necessary examination and regulatory processes and be of maximum use to residents and local businesses. It is therefore neither a quick nor a simple exercise."

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