Introduction

This code sets out Cheshire West and Chester Council’s design policy. By providing clear design rules and standards for everyone involved in the planning process, it aims to raise the bar for design quality while reducing planning uncertainty.

The code is intended for use by planning officers, applicants, agents, and designers. It applies to both the creation of new places and the retrofit of existing ones.

The code supports the Council’s strategic priorities, including the Poverty Emergency and the Climate and Nature Emergency, by promoting healthy, biodiverse environments and helping the borough achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.

Through the implementation of a design code, Cheshire West and Chester will be:

Principle 1. Healthy and liveable

A borough which promotes and protects the prosperity, health, wellbeing and liveability of our city, towns, villages and countryside to the benefit of present and future communities; 

Principle 2. Fairer and sustainably connected 

A borough where it is easier and more attractive for residents to travel actively, sustainably and affordably (across all modes), with cleaner, greener and safer streets;

Principle 3. Integrated and sustainable neighbourhoods 

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 healthy lifestyles;

Principle 4. Green and climate resilient

An environmentally sustainable and climate resilient borough, where water, trees and greenspace are woven into existing and new streets and public spaces to complement the built environment;

Principle 5. Characterful and locally distinct

A borough with beautiful, functional and popular new homes with locally distinctive buildings and streets that preserve the historic environment and reflect the best of local architecture and materials.

Sustainability is embedded throughout the code, which sets out design principles that support human flourishing, ecological balance, and collective well-being. New developments should be sustainable, beautiful, and prosperous mixed-use places that encourage walking, wheeling, and cycling. They should be integrated with existing places and served by public transport to ensure they are sustainable and equitable.

Sustainability requirements for new buildings are set by national building standards and by CW&C Local Plan Plan (Part Two) Policy DM 4 (Sustainable Construction)opens new window which seeks the highest levels of energy and water efficiency.
These requirements are therefore not repeated within this code.