The council's cabinet will soon be asked to approve new plans for development.

Cheshire West and Chester Council's cabinet will be asked to approve the Local Plan 'Issues and Options' consultation - which will last for eight weeks.

A local plan ensures development takes place using a planned approach across the borough - identifying future demand and locations for housing.

It also takes into account the needs of local people in terms of housing and infrastructure.

The current plan identifies an annual requirement of 1,100 homes and 18 hectares of land for office, industrial and distribution uses.

There were 1,366 new homes completed last year across the borough.

However the level of housing now required under new national planning policy is much higher, at over 1,900 homes per year.

The plan is informed using the council's ambitions for sustainability, net zero targets, inclusive economic growth to meet housing needs and identifying land for future business and investment.

It will identify the level of new housing and land for employment development in each area across the borough.  

The consultation outlines three options for meeting future development needs.

Based on a 15-year period the requirement would be around 29,000 homes and around 150 hectares for employment land.

The options consider accommodating development without Green Belt release and where Green Belt release should be considered as a reasonable alternative.

Cllr Christine Warner said: "The local plan is a guide to where development should take place, in the areas it's needed.

"This will help to avoid the type of speculative development that could have a negative effect on our communities and the environment. 

"The local plan provides greater stability and certainty for local communities, residents and developers. 

"No decisions have been made at this stage, there are three options being suggested for how we can meet future development requirements.

"By taking part in the consultation residents, businesses and developers will be able to suggest new or amended approaches to those suggested." 

More information on the current Local Plan - strategic policies, land allocations and detailed policies, which the council adopted in 2015 and 2019, is available here.