Local Conservatives call extraordinary council meeting over housing targets
By Dherran Titherington 10th Apr 2026
Cheshire West and Chester Conservative councillors have called an extraordinary meeting to "demand" a reduction in the borough's housing delivery targets.
Proposed by Cllr Martin Loftus, the meeting will discuss a housing delivery target of 1,928 homes per year, which Conservative councillors say represents a 285% increase compared to previous levels.
Taking place on Tuesday 21 April at Wyvern House, Winsford, the motion also asks the council leader to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government requesting a reduction in the housing target and a temporary "grace period" on land supply requirements.
It also proposes that developers be required to complete developments within a set timeframe after planning approval, rather than only starting work within three years.
In a statement, CWaC Conservatives said the increase has led to a rise in "dozens of speculative applications" for large housing estates in "inappropriate locations across the borough", without supporting infrastructure.
Cllr Loftus, Shadow Cabinet Member for Homes, Planning and Safer Communities, said he called the debate out of "immense frustration" that local needs were being overridden by decisions made in Westminster.
He added: "Whilst our motion makes it clear we need more houses, the decision to apply a 285% in our housing target is totally disproportionate with our needs and is having a huge impact on our communities, both rural and urban."
Conservative group leader Cllr Adrian Waddelove also called for work on the new Local Plan to be brought forward to Spring 2027, where possible within the authority's control.
Pointing to housebuilding as a major concern for residents in his Farndon ward, he warned of the "huge impact" of current development levels, adding that residents were concerned about losing their say in planning decisions.
He added: "Residents are rightly concerned that they are going to lose their say and be forced to accept a tsunami of houses in what are largely completely unsustainable locations."
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