Cheshire West and Chester Council has begun the process of preparing a new Local Plan which will guide development across the borough for at least the next 10 years.

The Local Plan scoping consultation begins this week, targeted at the general and specific consultation bodies identified in the government regulations.

Launching today (Monday 7 September), the 21 day consultation is seeking views on the scope of the Local Plan and how people should be involved as it is prepared.

It is mainly aimed at organisations such as Natural England, Cheshire West Voluntary Action and neighbouring councils, but members of the public can also respond.

Whilst residents are welcome to participate at this stage, the more substantial consultation will start in November and run for six weeks.

This will cover the proposed content of the Local Plan, including its vision and objectives, the proposed strategy for development and the evidence gathered by the council.

Councillor Christine Warner, Cabinet Member for Homes and Planning, said the scoping consultation was part of the new Government system for preparing local plans.

She 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.

It ensures that future development takes place using a planned approach across the borough, taking 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 new plan will replace the council's existing Local Plan, which was adopted in two parts in 2015 and 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.

The council is working under a new planning system introduced in March this year.

The next consultation, on the proposed Local Plan content and evidence, is due to begin on 23 November. A further Local Plan consultation is scheduled for 1 October 2027.

The consultation can be found here.