Local Plan Scoping Consultation
The ‘Notice to Commence’ and the Local Plan timetable were issued in June this year. Following the notice being published there is a minimum of four months before Cheshire West and Chester Council can reach the Gateway 1 stage, and begin preparing the new Local Plan.
The Local Plan scoping consultation starts this week, targeted at the general and specific consultation bodies identified in the Government regulations (for example, Cheshire West Voluntary Action, Natural England and neighbouring authorities), but anyone can submit comments. This is a 21 day consultation that seeks views on the scope of the Local Plan and how they wish to be engaged during the plan-making process.
Whilst residents are welcome to participate in this early stage, the more substantial consultation will start in November for six weeks on the proposed Local Plan content and evidence, including a draft vision, any proposed aims and objectives, the proposed spatial strategy, and summary of the evidence gathered to date.
Councillor Christine Warner, Cabinet Member for Homes and Planning, said:
The Scoping Consultation is part of the Government’s new legislation and guidance that requires local plans to be prepared, examined and adopted within a streamlined 30 month timetable with defined gateway stages to ensure progress, quality and compliance at key points. Although targeted at consultation bodies, we are seeking views from everyone about the scope of the plan and how we engage with everyone as part of this process.
This scoping consultation represents the first formal engagement stage of preparing the new Local Plan under the new plan-making system. It is not a consultation on draft policies, site allocations or preferred growth options.
A Local Plan shapes how land is used and how places will change and develop in the future. A Local Plan ensures that future development takes place using a planned approach across the Borough and takes into account the needs of local people in terms of housing and infrastructure. The Council is required to prepare a local plan that guides how the borough should be developed over at least a 10-year period. A new plan-making system was formally introduced at the end of March 2026, alongside the publication of updated regulations and national guidance.
The Council adopted the current Local Plan (Part One) Strategic Policies in 2015 and the Local Plan (Part Two) Land Allocations and Detailed Policies in 2019. The current plan needs to be updated to address the increased requirement for housing in the borough following the Government’s revised method of calculating Local Housing Need.
In line with Government expectations the Council must adopt a plan within a 30-month timescale although this period can be shortened.
Timetable
Local Plan scoping consultation – 7 September
Local Plan content and evidence consultation – 23 November
Local Plan consultation – 1 October 2027
Consultation data gathered last year will be used to inform the plan although it is recognised some elements may need updating.
The Council will regularly update the timetable, incorporating changes following any new guidance issued by Government.
The consultation is on the Planning Policy consultation portal