Concerns around the involvement of a Tory peer in the Adlington new town plans have been addressed.

A group of cross-party Cheshire East councillors wrote to Lord Deben, John Gummer, earlier this week to question his involvement with the proposed 20,000-home development.

Lord Deben is founder and chairman of Sancroft International, a consultancy believed to be advising Belport, the firm behind the Adlington plans.

The company's CEO, Felix Gummer, has now responded to the councillors, explaining that Sancroft International's focus has been on making the development as sustainable as possible.

He said: "In November last year, Sancroft International was engaged by Belport. Belport approached Sancroft after the government's decision regarding the proposed sites for new towns with the stated aim of making their bid for the new town at Adlington, were it to proceed, the most sustainable town in the UK.

"Sancroft's remit is to use its expertise and experience in sustainability, social cohesion, and biodiversity, and to gather the very best experts to advise on how Belport could create the most sustainable town in the UK. True to our expertise, Sancroft's remit is to deliver a feasible and realistic vision for what this town could achieve from a sustainability perspective.

"This brief emphatically includes, and all of us at Sancroft absolutely share, the aims of the five areas laid out by Cheshire East Council guiding the minister on any new town.

"I would like to thank you again for your letter and we will be happy to discuss these sustainability issues with you."

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Councillor Fiona Wilson drafted the letter to Lord Deben - details of which can be found here.

She is hopeful her colleagues will take up Mr Gummer's offer to discuss suitability issues, raise the concerns of residents and highlight the council's unanimous objection to the Adlington proposals.

Acknowledging councillor Wilson's letter, Macclesfield MP Tim Roca said: "I'm aware that questions have been raised about a Member of the House of Lords and their involvement in the Adlington new town proposals.

"I understand councillors have written to the peer in question to raise their concerns.

"As people know the government has not yet made a decision on the recommendation of the New Towns Task Force.

"My priority is on persuading them to reject the proposals, and I will continue to work cross party and across our community to achieve that."