Evidence and Research

The following documents and links provide a local evidence base on the key social, economic and environmental characteristics and issues that will support and inform the preparation and delivery of planning policy in Cheshire West and Chester.

New evidence base documents and sections will be added to this page as they become available.

Spatial strategy

• Places background paper

Land supply

• Land Availability Assessment
• Brownfield Land Register

Economic growth, employment and enterprise

• Document

  Employment Areas Survey 2024 (PDF, 4.91MB)
• Document

  Cheshire West and Chester Economic Needs Assessment 2025 (PDF, 6.87MB)

Town centres

• Cheshire West and Chester Retail Study
  • Document

    Cheshire West and Chester Retail Study Volume 1: Main Report (PDF, 2.55MB)
  • Document

    Cheshire West and Chester Retail Study Volume 2: Quantitative Capacity Assessment - Population Growth Scenario 1 (Lower Growth) (PDF, 9.27MB)
  • Document

    Cheshire West and Chester Retail Study Volume 3: Quantitative Capacity Assessment - Population Growth Scenario 2 (Higher Growth) (PDF, 8.6MB)
  • Document

    Cheshire West and Chester Retail Study Volume 4: Centre Health Checks (PDF, 3.55MB)

Open Space, sport and recreation

• Open Space Study 2016-2030
• Playing Pitch Strategy

Green infrastructure, biodiversity and geodiversity

• Document

  Peatlands of Cheshire West and Chester (PDF, 2.72MB)

Flood risk and water management

• Flood Risk Assessments

Minerals supply and safeguarding

• Minerals and Waste Monitoring (including Local Aggregate Assessments and Waste Need Assessments)