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VISION

This Neighbourhood Plan is centred on sustainability and accordance with the Cheshire West and Chester Local Plan Parts 1 &2. The policies and Parish Council actions in this plan seek to enable development that meets the economic, social and environmental objectives of the two parishes. The presumption in favour of sustainable development, limited by the Highways network, is at the heart of both plan making and decision taking, as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) namely economic, social and environmental objectives.
This Neighbourhood Plan seeks to reinforce these objectives considering local needs and opportunities across the plan area. The importance of sustainability has informed the plan main process from its initial stages and it is a theme that runs through the whole plan. As a result the production of the Neighbourhood Plan has provided an opportunity to review and update some of the wider sustainability related issues which underpin the resilience of the communities across the plan area and the quality of the legacy for future generations.
The preparation and production of this neighbourhood plan is seen as an opportunity to prioritise and agree proposals and actions the community and Parish Councils can agree upon to enhance the quality of life and empower positive change across the plan area.
The Parishes of Christleton and Littleton will continue to maintain their individual characters as vibrant communities with a strong sense of community. They will continue to be areas with a mix of age groups, where local people can live, work and enjoy a high quality of life. Importantly the unique character of each settlement will be retained and enhanced providing opportunities for outdoor recreation and green open spaces rich in wild life for the benefit of the local communities. Importantly, the Green Belt and strategic green gaps will be retained to provide an important buffer between the settlements and the City of Chester to retain the rural character of the plan area.
The Parishes of Christleton and Littleton are sustainable villages that offer two churches, a Primary School, a High School, a shop, a dentist, hairdresses, three pubs, two cafés, a play area, a village pond, cricket club, sports centre and swimming pool that cater for the needs of most residents. The special character, heritage assets, wildlife and the surrounding countryside must be protected and enhanced making the area an attractive place in which to live, work, play and visit.

Objectives

Christleton and Littleton must:

  • Encourage young people to remain in the village by supporting affordable, low cost 2/3 bed energy efficient houses that are sympathetic with existing housing and heritage assets.
  • Maintain and enhance our wildlife corridoors, cycling and walking networks and existing green spaces throughout and around the Village.
  • Reduce the A41/51 traffic, queuing on the A41/51 and cut through traffic through Christleton at peak school arrival and leaving times.
  • Provide secure and sustainable environments for their inhabitants.
  • Continue to be part of the wider area of Chester but with the distinctive character of the two villages, protected by Green Belt, with local access to open spaces and the surrounding countryside.
  • Be communities which take pride in their appearance, cultural and physical heritage.
  • Be settlements where people of all ages and incomes can find high quality, well-designed, sustainable housing together with the community services and facilities they need, particularly health and education.
  • Provide a healthy environment for its communities with access to local and a wider network of open spaces with ample opportunities for cycling, walking, running and riding.
  • Provide sustainable transport links to both employment and leisure provision on roads, footways and cycleways that are safe for pedestrians, cyclists and people with disabilities.
  • Preserve locally important views within, into and out of the plan area.
  • Be communities that are resilient to the impact of climate change that work towards a ‘carbon neutral’ sustainable outcome.

The general accepted (United Nations) definition of sustainable development is; ‘meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. The presumption in favour of sustainable development is at the heart of both plan making and decision taking, as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework and to meet these objectives the neighbourhood plan seeks to enable development that improves and meets economic, social and environmental objectives for the area.
As well as developing specific planning policies for the area the production of the neighbourhood plan has provided an opportunity to review some of the wider sustainability-related issues which underpin the resilience of the community and the quality of the legacy left behind for future generations. Not all of these are directly related to the planning process but have a significant impact upon the health and well being of both communities and therefore limit the housing development that the Villages can accommodate.

Working Groups

Click below for information on the various working groups.

Air Quality Working Group Documents

Housing Needs Report

Christleton & Littleton Heritage Trail

High School Travel Survey

Planit Cycling, Walking and Traffic Plan

South-East Chester Cycling Plans