Green belt land will be used for housing as part of the council’s latest draft local plan – including a new site at Lyme Green.

The latest copy of Cheshire East’s Local Plan – which earmarks development over 20 years – shows changes from an earlier draft consulted on in the new year.

Land between Congleton Road and Chelford Road previously earmarked for up to 3,000 homes is no longer under immediate threat.

But it will still be removed from the green belt and ‘safeguarded’, meaning it will be set aside for development after 2030.

But a corner at the bottom of the site, off Gawsworth Road, will see 150 homes straight away.

Brian Horan, of Gawsworth Parish Council, who was part of a campaign against green belt development, said: “We’re not convinced of evidence for all these houses, especially in light of extra houses coming on the market with the AstraZeneca move.

“The land may be safeguarded for now, but this is just delaying its development.

“Green belt is green belt, it’s not ours to give away, it’s for our grandchildren.”

The draft includes a green belt site at Lyme Green, named the Gaw End Lane site, which includes the land which Cheshire East tried to develop into a waste transfer site.

The plan was abandoned after it emerged the council had failed to give itself proper permission for the build.

It could see 100 homes, with part of the site set aside for development after 2030.

The King’s School site at Fence Avenue has been earmarked for 250 homes, reduced from 300 in the earlier draft.

South Macclesfield Development Area will see 1,100 homes, with employment, housing, commercial and recreational development.

The town centre site has been extended, including more of the King’s School fields, and will see 850 homes on brownfield land.

Road improvements include widening Cumberland Street, improvements at the Silk Road and Hibel Road junction and the Flowerpot junction, a new South Macclesfield Link Road between the A523 and A536, and a Poynton bypass.

Coun Michael Jones, leader of Cheshire East, said: “We’ve listened and we’ve acted.

“The proposed selection of sites will support not just the council’s vision for sustainable growth, but the people’s vision too.

“Rather than increasing the size of villages in the north and south, we are proposing a new village called the North Cheshire Growth Village in Handforth East.

“There are some difficult decisions to make but we believe that what we are now proposing will set out a solid blueprint to protect us from speculative and opportunistic developers.”

The Core Strategy is expected to be ratified by the Strategic Planning Board on September 26, before it is put before Cabinet on October 15 and Full Council on October 17.

Residents can make representations to the planning inspector after this date.

There will be an inspector’s report next summer before the final plan is adopted  in the autumn/winter.

Respond at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/localplan or pick up questionnaires at libraries.