1 Introduction

1 Introduction

This is the scoping report for the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) of the Cheshire West and Chester (CW&C) Local Plan. SA provides an assessment of the potential sustainability impacts arising from the proposed policies and allocations contained within the Local Plan. 

The SA will be undertaken as an integrated impact assessment and therefore covers the requirements of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Health Impact Assessment (HIA) and Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA).  It does not include Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA), as this will be undertaken separately by specialist consultants.

The new Local Plan will replace the current Local Plan (Part One) Strategic Policies and Local Plan (Part Two) Land Allocations and Detailed Policies.  It will establish a strategy for growth and change over the plan period.  It will allocate sites to deliver the strategy and meet identified needs.  The Local Plan will also set out the planning policies that will be used to deliver sustainable development in the borough.

This scoping report brings together the results of the initial stages of the SA process.  It sets out baseline information on a wide range of topics, highlighting trends, issues and objectives for the area.  A key output of the scoping report is the sustainability framework, which will be used to appraise the sustainability of the Local Plan Update.

Preparation of the scoping report has been undertaken to meet the requirements set out in the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations (2004), the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (2026) and the national Planning Practice Guidance (PPG).  The government have identified that Environmental Outcomes Reports will replace Environmental Impact Assessment and SA / SEA in the future, but the timescales for this are not yet clear and the SA / SEA process will be used until Environmental Outcomes Reports are introduced.

The NPPF sets out the Government's planning policies for plan-making and decision-making in England. The Framework introduces a new structure that separates policies for plan-making from policies for development management and is intended to provide a clearer, more rules-based planning system. The new NPPF was published on 17 August 2026, just before this SA scoping report was finalised.  This report does incorporate information from the new NPPF, but the implications will be considered in more detail at later stages of preparation of the SA report.

The baseline information and sustainability framework is set out in a series of chapters dealing with a wide range of sustainability topics as follows:

  • Climate change, energy and air quality
  • Waste
  • Land and resources
  • Water
  • Landscape, townscape and cultural heritage
  • Biodiversity
  • Population and housing
  • Health, wellbeing and equality
  • Economy and employment
  • Infrastructure

For each topic, a summary is provided of the policy context.  Baseline information is set out in relation to the past and current situation, recent changes and anticipated changes without the Plan.  Any evidence gaps are noted and the Local Plan’s potential influence on the topic is identified.  Key sustainability issues, SA objectives, sub-objectives/criteria and indicators are identified.  A list of all the sustainability objectives, which together make up the appraisal framework, is included in the SA framework chapter.

1.1 Local Plan

The Local Plan is the main planning document prepared by a local planning authority and it sets out how land will be used and developed over a specified period.  The CW&C Local Plan will be prepared under the new plan-making system that was introduced in March 2026.  This includes the amendments made by the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 and the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026.

CW&C initially worked under the current planning system, which included a Regulation 18 Issues and Options consultation, which was undertaken from 4 July to 29 August 2025.  This included asking for comments on the SA of the Issues and Options. After reviewing progress, the Council decided to move to the new plan-making system as a more robust and reliable approach.  Work will now continue under the new process.

1.2 Borough Plan 2024 - 2028

The Borough Plan outlines the vision and priorities for CW&C.  The vision is “a stronger future where we all play our part in thriving, caring and sustainable communities”.

The Borough Plan includes the following “missions”:

  • Starting well – the best start for our children and young people, with improve opportunity, a healthier start, greater resilience in families and the best possible support and care when it is needed.
  • Tackling hardship and poverty – most people feel more financially secure as the causes and impact of hardship and poverty are addressed by working alongside residents.
  • Resilient people living their best lives – local people are enabled to flourish, be healthy, happy and independent for longer in supportive communities.
  • Opportunities in a fair local economy – local people and businesses contribute to and benefit from a strong and fair local economy.
  • Neighbourhood pride – residents live in well maintained, connected and safe places with good and affordable homes.
  • Greener communities – individuals, public services and businesses take action to move to tackle the climate emergency, achieve net zero, protect the natural environment and adapt to the impact of climate change.

The Borough Plan is an important part of the policy context in which the SA of the Local Plan is being carried out.