Property Review reveals strong growth across the borough
July 3, 2026
Average read time: 2 minutes
The annual Cheshire West and Chester Property Review was launched this week (2 July 2026) at an event with property professionals, developers and business leaders.
The report highlights improvement across several areas including net business growth, unemployment levels, visitor economy and gross value added, GVA – a measure of the net value of goods and services produced in the borough.
Councillor Nathan Pardoe, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Regeneration and Digital Transformation said in his introduction to this year’s report:
Our growing and vibrant economy demonstrated substantial growth with a rise in businesses almost three times the level recorded in 2024, and the local business base is becoming more resilient as well as more dynamic. Our borough has the fourth largest economy in the North West, and the second largest manufacturing economy in the North West. The Property Review showcases our growing economy across many sectors and offers much cause for optimism alongside many significant future regeneration investments in the pipeline, such as Chester Northgate Phase 2, Weaver Square, plans for a refurbished Winsford Market and new market in Northwich, and completion of the refurbished Ellesmere Port Market; the outlook is very positive for the long-term growth of our borough. Thank you to everyone attending the launch of the Review, and I look forward to welcoming more businesses joining and investing in the Cheshire West and Chester area. As we look ahead, major changes are underway with the creation of the Cheshire and Warrington Mayoral Combined Authority which will have strategic powers relating to transport, skills, planning and economic investment including a 30-year investment fund worth £650 million.
Some of the key headlines during 2025 included:
- Cheshire West and Chester is the fourth largest economy in the North West, with a gross value added, GVA of £14.2bn and is the second largest manufacturing economy in the North West by GVA, contributing £2.5bn to the economy.
- This growing and vibrant economy demonstrated substantial growth during the year with an increase in businesses almost three times the level recorded in 2024. The local business base is becoming more resilient as well as more dynamic.
- A total of 1,202 new homes were completed across the borough, exceeding the current local plan annual target of 1,100 dwellings, with almost thirty percent of dwellings delivered as affordable housing.
- Unemployment is low at 2.6 percent, with the borough consistently having unemployment rates lower than regional and national averages.
- Hospitality and retail investment remained very positive with new openings including Ikea, Maray and Utility in Chester, B&M superstore and Sports Direct in Winsford.
- There were nine new openings at Cheshire Oaks, including Joseph and Playmobil plus Farmfoods in Ellesmere Port. In Northwich, Barons Quay welcomed Wild Tots along with plans approved for a new market.
- Cheshire Oaks celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025, having welcomed over 570 million visitors to the centre.
- The visitor economy contributed some £2.5 billion, up ten percent from the previous year and supported over 22,400 jobs, boosted by the significant investment at Chester Zoo with the opening of the Heart of Africa habitat and over fifty on-site accommodation lodges at The Reserve.
- High speed broadband infrastructure and connectivity improved, with fibre to the premise coverage reaching almost 87 percent across the borough, above the national average of around seventy percent.
To see the full Property Review