Adlington New Town plan sparks farmer and local opposition

Plans to build a new town of 14,000-20,000 homes on greenfield land in Adlington, Cheshire, have sparked strong opposition from farmers, residents, and rural campaigners.

Developer Belport Adlington has submitted proposals covering around 1,000ha in and around the village, including a target of 40% affordable housing.

While the scheme aims to tackle housing shortages, local communities fear it could permanently alter the historic rural landscape.

See also: Government plans for new towns: implications for farmland

Adlington was named as one of 12 potential sites by the Labour government’s New Towns Taskforce.

© Brian Perkins

Belport bought the 777ha Adlington Hall Estate in 2023, prior to the programme’s announcement, and has since acquired additional surrounding land. The plan would see large-scale development on green belt and agricultural land bordering the north-west edge of the Peak District National Park.

About 400 local residents, including farmers, staged a protest against the plans on Sunday (30 November).

Tim Roca, Labour MP for Macclesfield, has launched an online petition opposing the plan, claiming it would put huge pressure on local roads and schools.

Campaigners say six tenanted farms could be lost entirely, with a further four or five privately owned holdings potentially subject to compulsory purchase.

The Adlington area produces a significant amount of milk and beef due to its quality grazing land.

Farmer concerns

One local farmer, who asked not to be named, said: “Belport are just going round buying up land almost as if they know something we don’t. If this housing project goes ahead, it will decimate generations of family and tenant farms.

“They say it will be a green rural development, but how will it be rural with 20,000 houses here? It’s urban sprawl gone mad. If this goes ahead, it will be Greater Manchester spilling out into Cheshire.”

He added: “If they can compulsorily purchase people’s farms for agricultural price, the profits will just go abroad. It’s treating locals like they are ants and trying to force us out. If it could happen here, it could happen anywhere.”

The farmer also warned of wider consequences for food production, national food security and flood risk.

Sophie Wall, a local resident and equestrian business owner, said: “This development threatens to destroy a large area of green belt farmland, displace farming families, and cause irreversible damage to the landscape, environment, and rural community that has existed here for generations.”

CPRE Cheshire campaigner Lillian Burns described the plans as “a sprawling urban extension of Greater Manchester spreading well down into Cheshire over much highly productive farmland”.

River Dean, Adlington © Beverley Moor

Belport response

Belport director Alex Davis stressed that the proposals are at an early stage.

He said: “Around 40% of the land would remain publicly accessible green or blue space, with a strong focus on protecting and enhancing biodiversity, rewilding the River Dean corridor and safeguarding the historic parkland around Adlington Hall.

“The first local engagement sessions were held in November. We will continue to listen and work with the community as our plans develop in conjunction with the government’s new towns strategy.”