People living in a Cheshire area which could become home to a new town should “open” their minds to the “opportunity”, the housing secretary has said.
The village of Adlington was named as one of 12 potential locations for a new town, with local councillors and residents raising concerns about the proposals.
Steve Reed was asked about the opposition during a committee hearing and urged people in Cheshire – and others on the list – to “open our minds and see what’s possible”.
The government is set to announce more details on the new town proposals in the spring.
The Adlington proposal has been submitted by landowner Belport and could see between 14,000 and 20,000 new homes being built in the area.
Residents have recently held protests against the plans, and Adlington Parish Council chairman Simon Gleave previously said local town and parish councils were “up in arms” about the plan, claiming that the area’s infrastructure already “can’t cope”.
Much of the land in the Adlington area is designated as green belt.
MP Chris Curtis asked Reed during a session of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, if he had a message in response to opposition in Cheshire, and he said there were “such opportunities in front of us” and the government had to engage with communities, local authorities and other stakeholders.
“But this is the chance of a generation so I would say to people in the area that you’re mentioning – and any of the others – let’s just open our minds and see what’s possible because we can dream the future here and make it real,” he said.
Adlington is not listed as one of the three locations identified as the most promising by the task force.
Reed told the committee work was progressing on all 12 sites.
“We haven’t predetermined which ones will go ahead first, merely identified three that look the most promising,” he said.
“But all of it is subject to the strategic environmental assessment work and viability work that will happen between now and the spring.”