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Local Plan

Local plan update

Local Plan Issues and Options consultation 4 July - 29 August 2025

Drop-in sessions

Come to one of our drop-in events and talk to council staff, who will be available to answer questions and help you respond to the consultation.

Confirmed dates and locations are listed below:

Date

Location

Time

Wednesday 16 July

Northwich (unit 12 & 13 Baron’s Quay)

2-7pm

Monday 21 July

Chester (Garret Bar, Storyhouse)

12.30-5.30pm

Tuesday 5 August

Ellesmere Port (Vauxhall Suite, Civic Hall)

2-7pm

Wednesday 13 August

Winsford (28 Dingle Walk, Winsford Cross)

12.30-5.30pm

Background

In January 2024, the Council decided to prepare a new style Local Plan under the provisions of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.

However, since the new government was elected last year, the implementation of the new plan-making system has been delayed, and the deadline for submitting plans under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (2004) has been extended to December 2026.

As a result, Council Cabinet decided on 15 January 2025 to begin preparation of an update to the Local Plan under the current plan-making system, with the option to switch to the new plan-making system should it prove necessary and expedient to do so.

Cabinet 15 January 2025 (see item 83)

Subsequently on 11 June 2025, Cabinet decided to consult on the Regulation 18 Issues and Options Local Plan in summer 2025.

Cabinet 11 June 2025 (see item 10)

The update to the Local Plan will create a single local plan document that updates and replaces all policies in the Local Plan (Part One) and Local Plan (Part Two). The Local Development Scheme was published in May 2025, and the timetable is set out below:

Cheshire West and Chester Local Development Scheme under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act

Details

Date

Regulation 18 Issues and Options

Summer 2025

Regulation 19 Publication / Pre-Submission Plan

Autumn 2026

Submission

December 2026

Examination

Spring / Summer 2027

Adoption

Summer / Autumn 2027

Local Development Scheme 2025

Overview

Supplementary Planning documents

Monitoring reports

Every year we produce monitoring reports which monitor the Council's housing land supply; the Local Plan documents and policies and minerals and waste technical information.

Documents and comments

You can read, download and make comments on consultation documents through our online consultation portal: