Adlington plans lacked significant economic growth
BBCA proposal for a new town in Cheshire, which was recently rejected by the government, was deemed "unlikely" to offer nationally significant economic growth when compared to a site in Manchester, a report has revealed.
The government named its seven preferred locations for new towns - and said a site in Adlington would not be considered at this time, which was welcomed by local politicians and campaigners.
The report commissioned by the government reviewed all the areas on the shortlist and reviewed the impacts of each scheme.
For Adlington, it said there was a high chance the site could become car dependent as well as highlighting the loss of greenfield and agricultural land.
The strategic environmental assessment looked at the likely impact of each proposed new town, across areas such as climate change, health and wellbeing, and population.
Seven locations have been named for consideration, including proposals to build 15,000 homes on 390-acres of mostly brownfield land for the Victoria North scheme in Manchester.
The government said six locations - including Adlington - had met the programme objectives and were "credible" development opportunities.
But it said it had to "prioritise" government resources on sites which "have the greatest potential for transformation impact".
The report included the government's reason for selection or rejection for each area.
It said Adlington offered "an opportunity to develop a standalone settlement on a site largely owned by a single developer".
It said the environment impacts on land use and landscape on this "primarily greenfield site" would need to be mitigated.
"However, this location is unlikely to offer the same degree of nationally significant economic growth, especially in comparison to Leeds and Manchester Victoria North which are also located in the North of England," it said.
The report also cited "challenges" around upgrading public transport in the area and mentioned the significant levels of noise, vibration and dust associated with the construction that could impact the health of residents in Adlington, Prestbury and Bollington.
More than 85% of the suggested site is either arable land, pastures or forest and the development could lead to the "significant loss of best and most versatile agricultural land" it concluded while conceding it offered the area a number of affordable homes under the plans.
A public consultation on the proposed locations is under way, and runs until May.
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