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One of Environmental Planning Service's objectives is to regenerate vulnerable and degraded built or natural environments to recreate vibrant communities and landscapes.
To achieve this, the following activities are undertaken:
The Environmental Planning Service is involved with the regeneration of derelict land in Cheshire. Recent surveys have shown that some 3616 hectares of land in the county is derelict or neglected. This area is roughly equal to the centres of Chester and Crewe put together. If left in this condition, such land can detract from the overall image of Cheshire and reduce investment.
In the past 30 years the County Council has been involved in the reclamation of more the 700 hectares of such land for various purposes, including industrial use and housing, but mainly for environmental and leisure purposes
The Environmental Planning Service is currently focusing on about 160 hectares of former industrial land used by the salt-dependent chemical industry, which is mainly in the Northwich area.
The Service is also working with the North West Development Agency (NWDA) and other partners to organise a programme of reclamation called REVIVE which will tackle a further 580 hectares of derelict land over the next nine years.
The Environmental Planning Service is spearheading a bid to have the Weaver Valley area, which extends from Frodsham in the North to Nantwich in the south, designated as a regional park.
This is a project to build on the beauty and natural resources of mid Cheshire through a comprehensive regeneration programme of that part of the County which will "Weave Town and Country together".
The idea of such parks, which were devised by the NWDA, is to provide a place for outdoor recreation, improve access and increase tourism. The Service's immediate aim is to ensure the Weaver Valley Regional Park is included as a priority in the Regional Economic Strategy, devised by the NWDA to boost the economy of the North West as a whole.
Fact: Four million people live within one hour drive of the Weaver Valley
Fact: The River Weaver starts from the Peckforton hills, flowing south-east towards Audlem before turning northwards to Nantwich and then on to Frodsham
Cheshire's Market Towns
Market Towns have traditionally enjoyed a position at the heart of rural life, however, they are under constant threat from factors such as out-of-town shopping developments, lack of car parking and traffic congestion.
They are critical employment and service centres for the countryside, and serve up to a half of Cheshire's population. Work is currently underway to improve the town centres of Sandbach, Middlewich and Frodsham
Another aspect of this work is to look at how market towns work and what is needed to ensure their future prosperity. The service is working in partnership, locally, regionally and internationally to champion Cheshire's market towns.
Fact: Cheshire's Market towns include Frodsham which is a striking example of a medieval planned town, Neston was the main UK port for Ireland in the eighteenth century and Nantwich was extensively rebuilt with aid from a national appeal by Queen Elizabeth I after the great fire of 1583
A partnership has been formed to guide the regeneration of Northwich following the work to stabilise the former mines left over from the salt industry. Its members include Cheshire County Council, English Partnerships, the North West Development Agency, Vale Royal Borough Council and British Waterways.
Consultants from the Building Design Partnership have been commissioned to produce a framework for the comprehensive regeneration of Northwich, which includes encouraging potential new investment and development within an attractive setting.
The south east of Crewe is considered as a "gateway" into the North West Region. The area is currently subject to a number of significant projects and development proposals, including new employment development at Basford and West, improvements to the railway station and plans to expand Manchester Metropolitan University's Crewe campus.
The County Council and Borough Council, together with the North West Development Agency, are working together to improve the environmental quality and image of this area. The partners are looking to appoint consultants to prepare a "Masterplan" for the Crewe Gateway area, which will provide a framework to guide future development and ensure that it is fully accessible to local people.
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