In Cheshire, the announcement of a new town proposal with 20,000 homes has led to outrage among local residents and calls for the council leader's resignation. Residents felt blindsided when Adlington was added to the government’s list of proposed sites for new towns, which included a total of 12 across England, with construction set to begin on at least three sites during the current parliament. The plans were initiated without adequate local consultation, igniting a backlash in the community.

The controversy centers around a letter written in June by Nick Mannion, the Labour leader of Cheshire East council, and his deputy, Michael Gorman, which expressed support for the new town proposals to the New Towns Taskforce. This revelation has raised concerns regarding the council's disregard for local opinion and the planning process. Local authorities were specifically asked by the taskforce if they supported listing the new town proposals, to which Adlington responded affirmatively through the letter.

Sir Michael Lyons, chair of the New Towns Taskforce, addressed the housing committee, stating that the process requires explicit approval from local authorities before advancing with such proposals. The lack of transparency and local engagement in the decision-making process has heightened tensions within the community, as residents feel their interests were overlooked, and this incident may lead to greater scrutiny of council governance in Cheshire.