Design Code

Design codes are a collection of design principles which helps define what good development and high-quality public streets and spaces look like. A code sets out exactly what is expected of developers in a clear and visual manner. This leads to the creation of more beautiful and sustainable places within existing communities that local residents are more likely to support and treasure. 

Vision engagement consultation

There are five emerging vision themes for Cheshire West and Chester borough, which have been informed by the survey we ran in August/September 2024, as set out below:

  1. A borough which promotes and protects the prosperity, health and liveability of our city, towns, villages and countryside to the benefit of present and future communities.
  2. A borough where it is easier and more attractive for residents to travel sustainably and affordably (across all modes), with cleaner, greener and safer streets.
  3. A borough where new homes are part of diverse neighbourhoods that are well-integrated with our existing communities to support equality, community cohesion and sustainable lifestyles.
  4. An environmentally sustainable and climate resilient borough, where water, trees and greenery are woven into existing and new streets and public spaces to complement the built environment.
  5. A borough with beautiful, functional and popular new homes with locally distinctive buildings and streets that reflect the best of local architecture and materials. 

To build on these emerging themes, we ran a second online survey to explore what our community wants from new development through examples of streets and buildings, giving you the opportunity to tell us which you feel are appropriate or inappropriate as a guide for new development in the borough.

The online survey ran from Thursday 21 November until Friday 20 December 2024. The online survey has now closed but the questions asked are available in PDF format below:

To complement the online survey, four pop up events also took place around the borough in Ellesmere Port, Chester, Northwich and Winsford.

What is a design code?

Design codes are a collection of design principles which helps define what good development and high-quality public streets and spaces look like. A code sets out exactly what is expected of applicants in a clear and visual manner. This leads to the creation of more attractive and sustainable places within existing communities that local residents are more likely to support and treasure.

The guidance on how to develop a design code is set out in the National Model Design Code.

What are we doing?

The Council has recently appointed Create Streets to produce a borough-wide Design Code to help raise the bar for the design of new development and streets across the borough, helping to create places that more effectively and holistically deliver the Council’s strategic focus on health, wellbeing and sustainability.  

The design code will be used in planning decisions in relation to design as well as highway design.

Why are we doing this?

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 sets out the requirement in relation to design codes and that every part of the local planning authority area should have a requirement for design.

The Council would also like to take the opportunity to increase design quality within the built environment and sees the design code as a way to meet several Council objectives.

Where are we in the process?

The project team are currently in Phase two – Draft Vision stage of the project.

How can I get involved?

The design code is based on extensive engagement and consultation to reflect local aspirations for places within Cheshire West and Chester. There will be opportunities to feed into the Design Code, and we will update this page with information on the project and details of upcoming events. The consultation strategy sets out how we will be consulting on the Design Code:

We ran a short online survey between 29 August and 26 September 2024. This has now closed but you can see what people said here: