Cheshire West and Chester Council is consulting on issues and options for a new Local Plan, that will update and replace all policies in the current Local Plan (Part One) and Local Plan (Part Two).

The consultation will run for eight weeks beginning on Friday 4 July and ending at 23:59 on Friday 29 August 2025.

The new Local Plan will identify how much development is required in Cheshire West, including for housing, retail and employment uses and the plan will need to allocate sites to deliver the development needed.

This consultation is the first formal stage of producing a new Local Plan, and we are seeking views on how and where to accommodate new development, including identifying potential growth areas around settlements. The consultation sets out possible policy approaches across a range of subject areas including transport, protection of the environment and infrastructure.

We are also seeking views on supporting documents including a Sustainability Appraisal (SA); and a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA).

To view all documents and supporting information and submit your comments online, visit: https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/localplan

The easiest way to respond to the consultation is online. The consultation portal will guide you through the consultation, providing an opportunity to comment on each policy area that you are interested in, and make it quicker and easier for us to analyse and respond to your comments.

Alternatively, if you want to respond by email or post, please send your comments to:

• Email – planningpolicy@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
• Post – Planning Policy, Cheshire West and Chester Council, The Portal, Wellington Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BA

If responding by email or post, please ensure that you include your name and contact details, organisation (where relevant) and which chapter, policy approach or section you are commenting on (including the question number, policy reference and/or paragraph).

The consultation documents are also available to view during normal working hours at

• The Portal, Wellington Rd, Ellesmere Port CH65 0BA
• Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester CH1 2AR
• Northwich Memorial Court, Chester Way, Northwich CW9 5QJ
• Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford CW7 1AH
• The Council’s mobile library – for more information, please see: https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/libraries/find-a-library/mobile-library-service

A series of face to face and virtual drop-in sessions will be held during the consultation period, where officers will be available to answer questions and help you respond to the consultation. Details of these events will be published on our Local Plan webpages in due course.