2 Vision

2 Vision

National policy

2.1 Succinct and up-to-date plans should provide a positive vision for the future of each area; a framework for meeting housing needs and addressing other economic, social and environmental priorities; and a platform for local people to shape their surroundings (NPPF, paragraph 15).

2.2 Section 19(1B) - (1E) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 sets out that each local planning authority must identify their strategic priorities and have policies to address these in their development plan documents (taken as a whole).

Evidence base

Key issues

  • We need to develop a vision for the Cheshire West and Chester new Local Plan which sets out how we want to see the area grow and evolve up to the end of the plan period.
  • The vision should be positive, aspirational but realistic, clear and locally distinctive, and set out the intended character of the plan area.
  • The level of housing development required by the government presents a significant challenge to meeting national policy obligations while maintaining the special character of Cheshire West and Chester.
  • Acknowledging this, we believe that the current Local Plan vision will have to be updated.

Current adopted policy

Local Plan

Reference

Summary

Local Plan (Part One)

2 Vision

Sets out a vision of what Cheshire West and Chester will be like in 2030

Suggested policy approach

2.3 While the vision and the spatial strategy options (see SS 5 ‘Spatial strategy options’) are interlinked, we think that, in addition to describing the high-level ambition for Cheshire West and Chester, that there are some common themes or priorities that should sit at the heart of and run through the new Local Plan. We also think that below the high-level ambition, succinct visions should be established for what we want individual places in Cheshire West to be like.

VI 1

Vision

Vision – principles 

The vision for Cheshire West and Chester is to be a desirable and attractive place to live, work, learn and visit with vibrant towns and villages, by meeting our development needs in sustainable locations. We will achieve this by applying the four overarching principles of:

  • Tackling climate change – adapting to and mitigating against the effects of climate change and achieving a net increase in biodiversity
  • Promoting wellbeing – enabling all to enjoy safe and healthy lifestyles with a good quality of life
  • Providing infrastructure – ensuring the provision of appropriate infrastructure in suitable locations to make Cheshire West and Chester a good place to live
  • Protecting character – protecting the special character of the Cheshire countryside and its villages
Vision – places

While we do not know which specific places will be identified in the new Local Plan (5 ‘Spatial strategy’), as this will depend on the final choice of the spatial strategy, we would expect the larger settlements to have an individual vision:

  • Chester
  • Ellesmere Port
  • Northwich
  • Winsford
  • Frodsham
  • Neston and Parkgate

Question VI 1

Do you agree with the suggested approach towards the new Local Plan vision, as set out in VI 1 ‘Vision’ above? If not please suggest how it could be amended?

Question VI 2

Should the vision include/establish a set of principles and priorities? Are these the right ones – do you have any other suggestions? 

Question VI 3

Do you agree with the approach of establishing concise visions for the key places identified in the new Local Plan? Or do you have an alternative suggestion?