1.5.3 Area Types
In line with the National Model Design Code (NMDC), this borough-wide design code provides design rules based on Area Types. These are intended to help create locally distinctive places. Many of the borough's settlements contain multiple Area Types, often having a dense historic core that has been surrounded by post war development of a more suburban character.
Area Types will be assigned to sites by Cheshire West and Chester Council during pre-app discussions. If pre-application advice is not sought, it is recommended that you contact the planning department ahead of designing and submitting an application to confirm which Area Type/s a site should incorporate.
This code uses five Area Types:
- Chester city centre;
- Local Centre or High Street (e.g. the centres of Winsford, Northwich and Ellesmere Port and some lower order centres);
- Urban Neighbourhood (e.g. Ermine Street (Hoole), Weaver Street (Winsford), Victoria Street (Northwich), Enfield Road (Ellesmere Port);
- Suburban (e.g. Hartford Road (Davenham), Cromwell Road (Northwich), Hartington Street (Handbridge), Hillside Road (Frodsham), Upton Grange (Chester); and
- Village (e.g. Church Street (Malpas), Church Bank (Tattenhall), Ince Lane (Elton), Huxley Lane (Tiverton).
This code provides tailored design instruction for specific Area Types to reflect the variety of place typologies seen in Cheshire West and Chester.
Design must respond to the established character of the settlement as a whole, not only to its most immediate context. New development must take its lead from the enduring qualities of the historic settlement pattern, rather than repeating suburban layouts that make inefficient use of land whilt diluting local distinctiveness.
All large sites of over 250 homes must include at least two Area Types. The split between area types must be not greater than 70:30.
