The deputy leader of Cheshire East is handing over responsibility for its failing Local Plan.

Coun David Brown who has been overseeing progress on the development plan has announced today he's stepping aside from the duty.

This comes after planning inspector Stephen Pratt - in charge of checking the plan is legally sound - issued a statement of damning criticisms of the plan, which guides where homes, roads and businesses will be built until 2030.

He said it does not include enough houses to meet need and criticised the way the council has earmarked green belt for development.

Mr Pratt has warned the plan is unsound as it is and will fail without major amendments.

Cheshire East has opted to take six months to address the criticisms, further delaying the plan which should have been in place from 2011.

There have been calls for those in charge to take responsibility for the failings.

Now coun Brown has stepped aside, a task force of councillors will go about sorting out the plan over the six months.

Coun Brown, who is Cabinet member in charge of strategic outcomes, said: “In order to ensure the best chance for the Cheshire East Local Plan to succeed, I have decided to take a backward step from overseeing the Local Plan to allow a fresh pair of eyes and perspective to be brought to bear.

“I believe this is the best solution for the way forward as I have spent many hours and met many residents during the production of the plan.

“The Local Plan has been a massive undertaking. The Council has received more than 40,000 responses from residents and organisations, which were collated, assessed and fed into the submission version of the Local Plan Strategy. The strategy has also undergone nine rounds of public consultation since 2010.

“Since the Local Plan was approved by the Council, on February 28, 2014, the Government has come out with a new assessment methodology – the National Planning Policy Guidance – on March 6 this year, and therefore new housing calculations and employment figures will have to be calculated.

“Our economic growth and projected jobs creation has been outstanding – even beyond our expectations, with the unemployment rate down to 1.2 per cent in the Borough and just 0.9 per cent in Congleton for example – so we now have to review our housing numbers.

“Now it is time for others to assess the Planning Inspector’s comments in total – to make sure we can address all the issues that have been raised.”

The new task force will be headed up by coun Peter Raynes, Cabinet member in charge of finance.

Council leader Michael Jones said: “Peter Raynes will now lead this Task Force to expedite the process and reduce to as short as possible any delay to the Local Plan being examined and adopted.

“Peter will be ably assisted by former Cabinet member Councillor Jamie Macrae, who has a fantastic background within planning and economic development. We will also continue to listen to residents and involve external partners.

“It is important for everybody to be reassured that we have listened and will continue to listen to make sure we get the Local Plan right as soon as possible.”