Summary The purpose of this topic paper is to explore the key issues and challenges in the Chester area and potential ways of resolving them. This paper covers the Chester Area Partnership Board (APB) area, and includes the wards of Upton, Blacon, Hoole & Newton, City, Overleigh, Boughton Heath and Vicars Cross. Chester APB covers the historic city centre and outside the city centre are several suburbs, including: Blacon, which contains the largest housing estate in Chester; Handbridge, situated on the South bank of the River Dee and as historic as the centre itself; and Hoole, a popular residential neighbourhood, of mainly Victorian architecture, situated close to the railway station. There are also the smaller rural settlements of Aldford, Dodleston, Pulford and Eccleston which are situated within the Green Belt. National, regional and local context The key reports, plans and policies relating to the Chester area are: Plans for the area should be underpinned by National Planning Policy Statements, available at www.communities.gov.uk North West of England Plan Regional Spatial Strategy to 2021 (September 2008) - particularly policies RDF1, RDF4 LDR1, LCR5, RT3, L4 and W6 Spatial Strategy for West Cheshire and North East Wales (2007) Chester District Local Plan (2006) and accompanying SPG/SPD's Chester Core Strategy Issues and Options (2008) Various adopted Development Briefs West Cheshire Growth Point - Programme of Development (2008) Chester: The future of an Historic City (1984) Context and characteristics Chester is the largest urban area in Cheshire West and Chester Borough and has the largest concentration of retail, tourism and financial services. The historic city centre, originating as a Roman fortress some 2,000 years ago is designated as a conservation area and contains many listed buildings. The area abuts the national boundary of North Wales to the west and Chester’s special countryside setting is safeguarded by its tight Green Belt. The town is a major regional shopping centre serving an extensive catchment area. Chester is also an internationally important tourist city located on the banks of the River Dee and notable for its historic walls, its Cathedral, amphitheatre, galleried rows. Chester Zoo and Chester Racecourse are other popular draws to the city as is the Shropshire Union Canal. The city provides employment in other service areas, notably finance, local government and church administration. Chester Business Park on the outskirts of the city provides service sector employment where the main employer, Bank of America is based. Chester is also an internationally important tourist city and a high proportion of jobs are linked to the tourism industry. The city also provides employment in other service sectors, notably finance, local government (Chester is the main administrative centre for Cheshire West and Chester Authority) and church administration. Cheshire West and Chester Local Development Framework | Topic Paper - Chester 1 Chester currently has one named site of international nature conservation importance (The River Dee). This river is a Special Area for Conservation (SAC) and a site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). There are also good road and rail communications within the surrounding area. The Chester APB area has a population of 77,700 people it is a predominantly urban area with a high population density. The population is forecast to increase 3% between 2006 and 2016. Chester City has a population of 59,080. One third of the total number of households in Chester were single person households the highest proportion in CW&C. Chester’s population has the most young residents; the area had a third of those aged 20-24 reflecting the fact that Chester City has a university. Chester APB has over a quarter of the 75+ age group in Cheshire West and Chester. People have different needs and aspirations throughout their lives and therefore ensuring that the needs of people in all areas are met is a key challenge in this area. The areas population density in 2007 was 23.66 people per hectare, the highest in the authority. 9% of people reported being not in good health, which was the same percentage as in Chester West and Chester. Blacon and Overleigh Wards recorded Lower Super Output Areas(LSOA) ranked in the top 2% of the most deprived LSOAs in England. Nine LSOAs in Chester were in the top 20% most multiply deprived nationally. In general, those who live in areas of high deprivation suffer from poorer health. Chester is an attractive place to live and house prices in Chester are higher than the national average. In 2006 the average property price was £186,616, based on 2110 house sales. The average price for transactions in England and Wales was £166,402. 91% of Chester’s industry was in the Service sector (Banking, Distribution, Public Administration, Other Services and Transport), compared to 86% across Cheshire West and Chester. Of all APBs, Chester had the highest number of workplaces in banking finance and insurance sector. The unemployment rate in Chester was 3.5% similar to the rate in Cheshire West and Chester. Chester city centre serves an extensive catchment area, including large parts of Cheshire, North Wales and Wirral. It is the 3rd most important shopping centre in the North West behind the metropolitan cities of Manchester and Liverpool. As well as playing an important role in providing facilities and employment for local people, shopping has a key role in sustaining the unique historic fabric of the City, and aiding the economy of the City through encouraging tourism. In the Planning RSVP residents survey 2006 protecting Chester historic buildings were identified as being the most important issue for Chester. The Listed Buildings, locally listed buildings and conservation areas within Chester APB make a significant enhancement to the image of the area. In the 2008 Place Survey, the issue rated the as the highest priority for improvement in Chester APB were road and pavement repairs, activities for teenagers, and traffic congestion. The main area of flood risk in the Chester area is focused around Chester City centre, although well maintained flood defences protect the City to a 1 in 200 year standard. Further east, undeveloped land in the Sealand Basin is at risk of flooding and part of this area is designated as an official flood storage area by the Environment Agency, (Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, 2008). Chester has the highest crime rate in Cheshire West and Chester. From April 2008 to March 2009, there were 102 recorded crime incidents per 1,000 population. 2 Cheshire West and Chester Local Development Framework | Topic Paper - Chester The Chester APB area is surrounded by Green Belt. Key issues The key issues are: Improving standards of public highways and reducing traffic congestion. Reducing the level of crime, ensuring clean streets and access to health services. High population density – which means good access to services, but also increases pressure on services and facilities. Lack of activities for teenagers - leading to teenagers hanging around the streets was a big problem in local areas. Addressing high levels of crime – the recorded crime rate was 102 per 1,000 population the highest proportion of any APB. Providing the appropriate level of affordable housing to meet local need. Chester is an attractive place to live house prices are higher than the national average. Addressing pockets of deprivation - Lache is the most multiply deprived area in Cheshire West and Chester. There are significant pockets of social and economic disadvantage in the areas of North and South Blacon where unemployment is high, household income is low , high proportion of people claim benefits and educational achievement is low. Catering for an ageing population, Chester has a high proportion of elderly people. A high proportion of jobs are linked to the tourism sector and a key issue will be maintaining the strength of the visitor economy and the cultural offer of the area. Maintaining and enhancing vitality and viability of City centre, and local centres. Balancing flood risk with the regeneration priorities for the area. Protecting the special character of Chester as an historic city. Protection / enhancement of Greenbelt, natural, historic and built heritage, balanced with accommodating growth for future needs. Cheshire West and Chester Local Development Framework | Topic Paper - Chester 3 1 Introduction 5 2 National, regional and local context 6 3 Context and characteristics 9 4 Key issues 14 5 Key questions 19 6 Definitions/glossary 22 Cheshire West and Chester Local Development Framework | Topic Paper - Chester 1 Introduction 1.1 The purpose of this topic paper is to explore the key issues and problems in the Chester area and potential ways of resolving them. 1.2 This paper covers the Chester Area Partnership Board (APB) area, which is shown on the map below. It includes the wards of Upton, Blacon, Hoole & Newton, City, Overleigh, Boughton Heath and Vicars Cross. Map 1.1 Chester Area Partnership Boards Area 1.3 Chester APB covers the historic city centre and several surburbs outside the city centre, including: Blacon, which contains the largest housing estate in Chester: Handbridge, situated on the South bank of the River Dee and as historic as the centre itself: and Hoole, a popular residential neighbourhood, of mainly Victorian architecture, situated close to the railway station. 1.4 There are also the smaller rural settlements of Aldford, Dodleston, Pulford and Eccleston