Main heading

The Environmental Planning Service prepares plans to make Cheshire a more attractive place in ways that can be sustained for future generations.

The service's planning objectives are:

• To promote Cheshire's interests in the formulation of regional planning and transport policy.
• Regional Planning Guidance for the North West was published in March 2003. It provides a framework for the plans and strategic decisions of organisations in the region, including local authority development plans. It seeks to encourage sustainable growth, support urban renewal, foster greater levels of social inclusion, while allowing business to compete on a global scale. The document was prepared in partnership with key regional stakeholders, including the County Council, who take a proactive role in the Region through membership of the Regional Planning Advisory Group.
• To ensure up to date and relevant strategic policies and proposals for the sustainable development, protection, management and enhancement of Cheshire's land, environment and resource.
• The Council's Structure Plan sets out the broad planning strategy for the county, including policies on the amount and general location of land for new homes, businesses, shops, and leisure facilities. It also includes measures and schemes to protect and enhance Cheshire's environment and to improve its transport. The current Structure Pan, published in 1999 explains where necessary new development will be accommodated and which areas should be protected. It cover the period 1996 to 2016.

Did you know? Cheshire has a population of approximately 674,000, which is expected to increase to just over 681,000 by 2006 Cheshire's unemployment rate is around 2%, which is about half the average for the North West and well below the average for Great Britain Cheshire has to plan for 1630 new homes to be built every year.

• To prepare and review the Cheshire Minerals Local Plan to make sure the amount of minerals extracted is monitored and kept at a sustainable level. The Cheshire Minerals Local Plan, adopted in 1999, provides advice on where mineral development can take place. Cheshire is a nationally important source of salt, construction sand and silica sand. The Plan extraction, from locations and operations to the reclamation of sites for new uses and their future management.
• The council is a member (and current secretary) of the North West Regional Aggregates Working Party (NWRAWP) which is made up of representatives of North West planning authorities, relevant Government departments and the aggregate extraction industry. Aggregates are minerals extracted from the earth, such as construction sand and limestone.
• This organisation monitors the levels of extraction and the reclamation of sites and also provides a regional view on government policy and the state of aggregate production and reserves in the North West.

Did you Know? An average three bedroom semi needs about 50 tonnes of sand in its construction. The average number of homes required annually in Cheshire is around 1,600 using up about 80,000 tonnes of sand. Cheshire produces nearly 70% of the North West's construction sand. Cheshire is one of the few areas where high quality silica sand is extracted for the foundry and glass making industries in the United Kingdom.

• To prepare and review a Waste Local Plan to ensure more environmentally friendly ways of dealing with Cheshire's waste.

Did you know? In Cheshire the average person produces 1.2 tonnes of rubbish in a year, increasing by three per cent per year. Cutting down on the level of rubbish produced in the first place, how rubbish should be disposed of, and where are all considered in the Waste Local Plan. The 16 household waste sites within the County receive 100,000 tonnes of rubbish a year. In addition, three waste disposal site deal with 363,000 tonnes of household rubbish per year.

• To inform the development of District Local Plans. The Council's County Structure Plan is used as guidance by district planning authorities, who then prepare more detailed Local Plans and documents. These plans identify exactly where new developments can and cannot take place. The County Council contributes to the Local Plan process, to ensure that County Council policies are carried out.
• To ensure the integration of Transport and Land Use Planning in Cheshire. The relationship between transport and land use is fundamental to the planning system. It is a major element of the Structure Plan, which seeks to ensure that development is located so as to minimise the need for travel, particularly by car, and to provide transport investment and services in environmentally and socially appropriate ways.