Local Plan Issues and Options (Regulation 18)

Comment

Representation ID: 13207

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: Mersey Forest

I&O_13726
We welcome the reference to The Mersey Forest Plan in the new Local Plan, as it is a long-term strategic guide to our work and extends to 2050 and beyond. Our vision is "More with Trees," focusing on growing and caring for trees and woods as part of a thriving mosaic of habitats in and around the region's cities, towns, and villages. The Mersey Forest is primarily a Place Making Plan. The Forest Partnership uses the Forest Plan to guide beneficial landscape changes that foster sustainable economic growth, promote nature recovery, and enhance resilience to future climate impacts, while providing various social, economic, and environmental benefits.

Comment

Representation ID: 13208

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: Mersey Forest

I&O_13727
Tackling Climate Change and Sustainable Development: The Local Plan's vision includes "Tackling climate change" and states that "Sustainability is a core theme of the new plan". Policy approach SD 1 includes mitigating climate change through low-carbon design and green/blue infrastructure, and adapting to climate change through flood-resilient design. Our own plan's principle to "Establish trees, woods, and other habitats" aims to increase tree cover across Cheshire and Merseyside to 15% by 2050 from a 2025 baseline of 13.7%. Aiming to increase tree cover can contribute to the delivery of this wider ambition. The Local Plan's Policy approach GI 1 also sets out an approach to combine current policies to safeguard and enhance biodiversity, geodiversity, and green infrastructure, with specific reference to tree cover.

Comment

Representation ID: 13210

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: Mersey Forest

I&O_13729
Tackling Climate Change and Sustainable Development:  The Local Plan's vision includes "Tackling climate change" and states that "Sustainability is a core theme of the new plan". Policy approach SD 1 includes mitigating climate change through low-carbon design and green/blue infrastructure, and adapting to climate change through flood-resilient design. Our own plan's principle to "Establish trees, woods, and other habitats" aims to increase tree cover across Cheshire and Merseyside to 15% by 2050 from a 2025 baseline of 13.7%. Aiming to increase tree cover can contribute to the delivery of this wider ambition. The Local Plan's Policy approach GI 1 also sets out an approach to combine current policies to safeguard and enhance biodiversity, geodiversity, and green infrastructure, with specific reference to tree cover.

Comment

Representation ID: 13211

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: Mersey Forest

I&O_13730
Protecting Character and Green Infrastructure: The Local Plan's guiding principles include "Protecting character". Policy approach GB 1 for the Green Belt and countryside aims to protect the intrinsic character and beauty of the borough's countryside. Policy approach LA 1 on landscape also aims to protect and enhance landscape character and local distinctiveness. Our plan's principle of "Right tree, right place, right reason" uses area-specific principles based on landscape character to guide our long-term 30% tree cover ambition. It would be beneficial for the Local Plan to align with this ambition and to link to the Mersey Forest “Tree Atlas” to identify local areas where tree planting may be most appropriate.

Comment

Representation ID: 13212

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: Mersey Forest

I&O_13731
Protecting Character and Green Infrastructure: The Local Plan's guiding principles include "Protecting character". Policy approach GB 1 for the Green Belt and countryside aims to protect the intrinsic character and beauty of the borough's countryside. Policy approach LA 1 on landscape also aims to protect and enhance landscape character and local distinctiveness. Our plan's principle of "Right tree, right place, right reason" uses area-specific principles based on landscape character to guide our long-term 30% tree cover ambition. It would be beneficial for the Local Plan to align with this ambition and to link to the Mersey Forest “Tree Atlas” to identify local areas where tree planting may be most appropriate.

Comment

Representation ID: 13213

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: Mersey Forest

I&O_13732
Flood Risk and Water Management: The Local Plan should prioritise nature-based solutions for flooding. The policy's preference for surface-level SuDS with "multi-functional benefits for biodiversity, amenity, cooling and water quality" over underground tank systems directly aligns with our goals to create more green spaces and habitats. The Mersey Forest’s natural flood management work can directly contribute to the achievement of this policy. The Urban GreeenUP project and our long term monitoring of NFM interventions are helping to make the case to weave Nature Based Solutions into traditional hard engineering solutions for water management. By requiring that SuDS be designed as "green and blue infrastructure," the Local Plan will contribute to the network of woodlands and habitats that The Mersey Forest is developing. This will also help to "conserve and enhance" watercourses and riverside habitats as mentioned in the policy. In the past 5 years, through the Trees for Climate programme alone, The Mersey Forest Partnership has planted 42 ha in Cheshire West and Chester on high-priority NFM land. Total TfC planting in Cheshire West and Chester to date will provide an estimated 89,129 m 3 of annual flood water storage capacity, contributing to flood risk mitigation. This is equivalent to roughly 36 Olympic swimming pools.

Comment

Representation ID: 13214

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: Mersey Forest

I&O_13733
Promoting Access to Green Space : The policy's emphasis on promoting access to and improving the quality of green spaces directly supports The Mersey Forest's work. The policy states that proposals "should also aim to promote high quality access to green space across the borough." This provides a mandate for developers to integrate woodlands and green spaces into new developments, which directly aligns with The Mersey Forest's mission of bringing nature closer to where people live. The Mersey Forest’s Natural Health Service encourage people to access their local green spaces and feel closer to nature.

Comment

Representation ID: 13215

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: Mersey Forest

I&O_13734
Working Together: The Local Plan's policy approaches highlight the need for collaboration and engagement, with Policy approach ID 1 on infrastructure and developer contributions including net zero goals and greater environmental protections. Our plan's principle 7 is about working with a wide range of organizations, including town and parish councils, to deliver our vision. We would welcome the opportunity to work with the Council to ensure support for The Mersey Forest Plan and to enable delivery of the new Local Plan's environmental and sustainability goals.

Comment

Representation ID: 13217

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: Mersey Forest

I&O_13736
What could the new Local Plan do to support the Mersey Forest?  The Local Plan can support The Mersey Forest by directly aligning its policies and strategies with the goals outlined in The Mersey Forest Plan. A key step is to explicitly reference and endorse The Mersey Forest Plan within the Local Plan's policy wording, particularly in the green infrastructure and biodiversity sections. This formal recognition gives The Mersey Forest's objectives and principles greater weight in planning decisions. Tree Cover Targets: The Local Plan can adopt specific, quantifiable targets for tree canopy cover, such as the proposed 16% minimum tree cover for all wards. This directly supports The Mersey Forest's ambition to increase tree cover across the region. Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS): By focusing on contributions via the emerging LNRS, the Local Plan ensures that green infrastructure and biodiversity net gain efforts are coordinated with the broader, strategic objectives of The Mersey Forest, which is a key partner in developing the LNRS. Practical Implementation The Local Plan can create a framework that enables the practical delivery of The Mersey Forest's work on the ground. Planning Requirements: The Local Plan can require developers to incorporate specific green infrastructure elements, such as trees and hedgerows on all external edges of new developments, which helps to expand and connect the borough’s ecological network. Prioritised Planting: The Local Plan can identify and prioritise areas for tree planting and habitat creation. The suggested "league table" approach should align with The Mersey Forest’s tree atlas  to focus on wards with low tree cover, directing development and funding towards these areas to help them reach the minimum 16% target. Land Use: Policies could be developed to identify and protect specific sites for woodland creation and other nature recovery projects, ensuring that suitable land is available for the long-term delivery of The Mersey Forest Plan. Planning Policy: The Mersey Forest Plan should be used in the development of other planning policy documents, such as Neighbourhood Plans and the LNRS. The Local Plan should support this by making it a requirement that other planning policy documents in the council link to and aim to deliver the objectives of the Mersey Forest Plan.