What happens after plans for a new town are dropped?

The small Cheshire village of Adlington - home to only about 1,200 people - found itself making national news in recent months.

It had been put forward as a site for a potential new town of up to 10,000 homes, sparking protests and calls for political resignations.

But after the proposals were ultimately not taken forward by the government, the site's owner is now looking to build 1,275 new homes.

One of the developers - in his first BBC interview - said he understood the plans "would not appeal to everyone".

Adlington is a small rural village close to Macclesfield with a pub, a railway station, a village hall, and a natural burial ground.

It is also home to Adlington Hall, a grade I-listed historic building that was owned by the Legh family for 700 years.

The site - including the hall - was sold with a guide price of £30m.

It was in September 2025 when Adlington was named as a potential site for a new town.

The proposals led to regular protests in the local area - and also nearly led to the downfall of Cheshire East Council's leadership over a controversial letter which appeared to endorse the scheme.

The council later unanimously voted to oppose the plans.

The government said it would not move forward with the Adlington new town plans earlier this year.

The developer who owns the land is looking at new proposals for the site.

This is causing concern for some locals.

Inside the Great Hall of the building, a community consultation event has taken place.

Drawings of potential sites were dotted around the medieval room, which features carved oak trees surrounding a historic organ said to have once been played by Baroque composer George Frideric Handel.

James Thomas, one of the directors of Belport, was among technical consultants, project managers and others involved in the meeting.

He said his company had bought the site in 2023 and the new town proposals for Adlington came about after a call from the government for sites.

He said this had "accelerated" his company's plans.

During the new town process, there was criticism about the lack of consultation with the local community before it was named as a recommended location by the New Towns Taskforce.

Due to a non-disclosure agreement, Thomas said his company was unable to "roll-out the pitch" before the government's announcement in September.

"We understand in hindsight why there was so much ire - it was driven by surprise."

The new proposals are for about 1,275 homes, across a mix of one, two, three, four and five-bedroom properties on part of the land.

A new primary school as well as a community space are also included in the masterplan.

Thomas said these proposals came about after the company had the "realisation it's highly unlikely we're going to get the new town".

"It highlighted the potential of the site for development," he exaplained. "We feel this quadrant is the most suitable as it's the closest to the station."

One of the objections from local residents was around the loss of green space with the new town proposals.

Thomas said he understood these concerns and stressed that Belport had been looking into rewilding a brook running through the site.

In terms of the historic hall, Thomas said Belport did not have any firm plans.

"Under the new town, we were going to open it as a community building," he said.

"We are willing and able to listen".

He added that the hunting lodge on the site - which was previously used as a wedding venue - has had some interest with approaches to potentially become a farm shop or restaurant.

And what does Thomas think of the general community concern and protests?

"I hope there will be a sense of cordiality," he replied.

"We're trying to dispel the myth that we're faceless developers. This event shows we're here to listen and seek compromise."

What did local people think of the initial plans at the consultation event?

Bernadette West, who has lived in Adlington for 30 years, said she did not agree with the proposals.

"All they're in for is the money," she said. "They don't care about the area at all.

"Quite a lot of houses and a lot of traffic, isn't it?"

Rachel Shaw, who has lived in the area for 40 years, said she went in "absolutely opposed" to the plans.

"But the idea itself is far preferable than developing other sites," she said.

She said she still had concerns about the infrastructure and suggested that "it can't cope".

"All the arguments that we had against the new town, the sewerage, the electricity, the water, still exist.

"But if we have to build, they seem to be a bit more sympathetic.

"I went fired up with all my questions and these guys are very skilled with the marketing tools, so I'm still opposed to it but I don't feel as violently opposed."

Stephen Gildert, a Conservative councillor on Prestbury Parish Council, said local residents' concerns "still remain regarding loss of productive farmland, housing density, access, transport, roads".

When asked if he was opposed to any development in the area, he said it was "a question of having to work with reality".

"We can stand there and wave and it just doesn't make any difference at all, but I think we should be able to shape what we need as a local community," he said.

But Gildert said he was still concerned large-scale development - as put forward under the new town plans - could still happen.

"I have a concern that we end up with a new town but in a 'death by a thousand cuts way'."

There are still a number of years before any work could start here, so it looks like the discussion around the future plans for the site - and the concerns of the local community - will rumble on for some considerable time.

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