Main heading

Regeneration Projects | REVIVE | Northwich Community Woodlands | Contaminated Land

Introduction

The major role of the Land Regeneration Unit is to support the reclamation and regeneration of derelict (Brownfield) and neglected land in the county, working towards the Council's objectives of improving the social, economic and environmental well-being of Cheshire, helping to improve the quality of life and making the area more attractive to local residents and inward investors. The Land Regeneration Unit supports numerous initiatives to promote development and regeneration through successful bids for funding including substantial NWDA funding.
 
Industrial decline and restructuring has left areas of derelict land in many parts of the county, and there is a significant problem with derelict and contaminated land, and while some sites have been reclaimed to conventional 'hard end' economic uses, a significant number of sites cannot be regenerated in this way, either because of geographical location or ground conditions. Many of these sites are situated in close proximity to residential areas, whose communities are often themselves socially and economically disadvantaged as a result of the changing patterns in industry and employment in their localities.

Local communities have a strong interest in the sustainable regeneration of such sites. This is because restoration enhances local image and community confidence, creates important local amenities for informal recreation, and can provide opportunities for local job creation and economic regeneration. Some derelict and neglected land can represent important wildlife habitat, public green space or a core part of urban green networks. These are important in providing good quality of life, and Brownfield reuse must strike an appropriate balance in the interests of sustainable development.

There are over 4500 hectares of derelict and neglected land in Cheshire. Major efforts have been made to reduce the amount of derelict land through vigorous Land Reclamation Programmes, which the Land Regeneration Unit is responsible for co-ordinating. Over 800 hectares of land has been reclaimed, releasing land for new developments such as housing and commerce in Winsford, Cycleways in Sandbach and Wild Flower Meadows in Widnes. More recently former Lime beds and salt works in Northwich have been reclaimed for open space, and disused mineral lines at Wheelock and Biddulph have been developed for Cycleways and Bridleways.

The Land Regeneration Unit is committed to bringing more land into sustainable use. Concentrating development on derelict (Brownfield) sites can help to make the best use of existing services such as transport and waste management. It can encourage more sustainable lifestyles by providing an opportunity to recycle land, clean up contaminated sites, and assist environmental, social and economic regeneration and help protect the countryside. The Land Regeneration Unit aims to steer the development of derelict land unsuitable for development, for ‘soft-end’ uses such as recreation, parks and community facilities.