Growth Point

In July 2008 it was announced by the government that West Cheshire would be one of the 20 new Growth Points in England and one of six in the North West.  Growth Points are part of the Government's initiative to provide three million more new homes by 2020.  West Cheshire contains a diverse mix of potential housing sites across the four principal urban areas of Chester, Ellesmere Port, Winsford and Northwich.  The approval of the Growth Point for West Cheshire comes with an expectation of delivering a much higher level of housing growth than has been achieved in the past and the development of a high proportion of brownfield sites in sustainable locations and high levels of affordable housing.

In 2008, a Programme of Development was drawn up by a team of officers from the four former authorities and approved by the Shadow Authority.  This was a bidding document for funding to help deliver the Growth Point and was submitted to the government in October 2008.  In December 2008 it was announced that West Cheshire Growth Point had been awarded £3.4 million covering the 2009/10 and 2010/11 period.

The Programme of Delivery sets out proposals for the period 2007/8 to 2017/17 with a particular emphasis on the first three years of delivery.

Our Vision

"Our vision is to deliver sustainable housing growth enabling the full economic potential of the sub region to be realised.  We will ensure growth delivers a balanced housing offer meeting the diverse needs of West Cheshire communities.  The nature, location and level of housing growth will positively contribute towards the regeneration of our communities."

Our Proposals

• Deliver an additional 2,700 homes between 2007/08 and 2018/17 (on top of the requirement for 11,853 homes set out in the Regional Spatial Strategy, an increase of 23%);
• Ensure that 30-40% of these homes are delivered as affordable housing;
• Bring back into use derelict and neglected sites in sustainable locations;
• Create a network of open spaces across West Cheshire to bring social, economic and environmental benefits to local people and communities and to deliver high quality open spaces, strategic environmental enhancements and contribute to high quality development (known as ‘green infrastructure’);
• Deliver high quality development, which complements local character and which is sustainably constructed and energy efficient;
• Improve transport links, particularly sustainable transport, between areas of housing and employment growth;
• Deliver major environmental improvements across the sub-region in a coordinated way.

For further information, view or download the Programme of Development (5.7MB PDF Format).

Planning Status

Growth Point is not a statutory designation and Growth Point proposals will have to be confirmed through the statutory planning process and included in the Local Development Framework, with the public consultation, testing, Sustainability Appraisal, Appropriate Assessment (under the Habitats Directive) and examination in public that these processes entail.

See the Local Development Framework webpages for more information.

Progress

A Growth Point team has been established within the Strategic Housing & Spatial Planning service to take the programme forward and consideration is now being given to the governance arrangements. 

Early priorities for the Growth Point will include delivery of:

• Integrated Transport Strategy
• Green Infrastructure Strategy
• Water Cycle Strategy
• Infrastructure Plan
• Programme of Development update

Cheshire West and Chester will continue to work with all relevant bodies to deliver its Growth Point objectives.

For further information on the West Cheshire Growth Point, contact the Growth Point team on: 01244 973883 or email growth.point@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk