I think it's important we don't get too comfortable with the recent decision on Adlington — because this doesn't feel like the end of it.

Yes, Adlington hasn't been selected as a 'New Town', but let's be absolutely clear — that doesn't mean development here has been scrapped. It simply means it's not going ahead under that label. The land itself is still very much in play.

And that's where the real concern lies. I'd bet most people now think 'that's it, it's over' — when in reality, this looks far more like a shift in approach than a full stop.

Cheshire East were the ones who put Adlington forward in the first place — that didn't happen by accident. There was clearly intent behind it. At that stage, there would have been a clear understanding of land ownership, developer interest, and viability. Proposals of that scale don't just appear out of nowhere.

There's also a growing view that developers have had options on parts of this land for years, waiting for the right conditions and the least resistance to bring it forward. That suggests this has been in the pipeline for a long time.

And we should be very careful not to assume this is about just one name or one company — developments of this scale are rarely that simple. There are often multiple interests involved behind the scenes.

Add to that the fact the council still cannot demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, and it creates exactly the kind of environment where development pressure intensifies — even on land that communities value and want to protect.

READ MORE: Adlington not among seven new towns proposed by government

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Now, at almost the exact same time as the New Town decision, Cheshire East have opened a new 'Call for Sites' as part of their Local Plan work. For those who aren't familiar, this is the council actively inviting landowners and developers to put forward land they want built on in the future.

Maybe it's coincidence — but the timing is hard to ignore. One large proposal disappears, and at the same time the door opens for sites to come forward through a different route. It doesn't take much to see why that raises eyebrows.

From what's been seen at Strategic Planning Board meetings and other discussions, there's a strong sense that the default position leans toward building wherever a case can be made. Many residents feel the balance is too often tipped away from protecting local interests — and that needs to be challenged.

On top of that, recent changes to national housing policy have significantly increased pressure on councils to find land and deliver more homes. These shifts don't happen in a vacuum — there are clear interests involved, from major housebuilders and land promoters to planning consultancies and wider economic pressures, all pushing in the same direction for more land to be made available for development.

Individually, each of these things can be explained. But when you step back and look at the full picture — the long-standing land options, the policy changes, the housing shortfall, the timing of decisions — it's not unreasonable for people to question how all of this seems to line up so neatly.

And that's the real challenge. Processes like this are complex and often hard to follow — and that can make it easier for things to be hidden in plain sight. If something isn't right, it won't reveal itself on its own.

It takes a community that is paying attention — asking questions, digging into the detail, challenging decisions, and exposing what's really going on.

And you don't do that by just buying a 'Stop Adlington' t-shirt or putting a poster in your window.

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ALSO READ: Macclesfield MP hails 'victory for Adlington' as government rejects new town proposal

So while this is being presented as a win, it feels far more like a reset — and to many, it risks looking like smoke and mirrors.

If anything, now is the time to double down and keep the pressure on:

• Challenge our MP to actively push government for a genuine brownfield-first policy
• Push local councillors to prioritise brownfield and properly defend greenbelt
• Keep a close eye on any planning activity, land promotion, or Local Plan movement

What the community has achieved so far has been powerful — but this next phase is just as critical.

We only have to be right once. They have to get it through every single time.

Don't take your foot off the gas — because this is far from over.

Richard Slater - Save Macclesfield Greenbelt

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