Category Archives: News

We recently surveyed the 28 businesses that have ‘shop fronts’ in Handbridge to seek their views on areas where additional planning policies for our neighbourhood might be a help. In the New Year all residents will also be asked for their views in the detailed survey that will be sent to every house in theContinue reading “Business Survey Results Autumn 2022”

We have been awarded £6.2K funding by Locality to support the development of the Handbridge Neighbourhood Plan. Cheshire Community Action will carry out a detailed postal household survey and provide advice on planning policies. Cheshire Wildlife Trust will carry out habitat mapping and recommendations for enhancing the value of the natural environment in Handbridge.

The next meeting of the Handbridge Neighbourhood Forum is at 7pm on Tuesday 30th August at Bridge House, University of Chester Queen’s Park Campus. At the meeting we will provide an update on our draft policies and our progress with grant applications to pay for research and consultancy work to provide an evidence base forContinue reading “30 August 2022 Forum meeting”

The second AGM of the Handbridge Neighbourhood Forum took place on Zoom on Monday 4 July and was attended by 11 forum members. The committee officers were re-elected as follows: Chair (Conor O’Gorman) Vice-Chair (Martin Smith) Secretary (Helen Speke) Treasurer (Jacqueline Hughes). The primary objective of the forum is to draft a neighbourhood plan toContinue reading “4 July AGM”

Twenty eight people attended our first ‘in-person’ public meeting in over two years.  The results of our first household survey were presented and discussed. The top three choices were for neighbourhood plan policies on Green Spaces (71%), Community Facilities (53%) and Business & Shops (50%). The feedback from the survey and our public and forumContinue reading “8 February public meeting at St Mary’s Community Centre”

The Handbridge Neighbourhood Forum committee are considering drafting neighbourhood planning policies for housing, parking, transport, community facilities, businesses/shops, green spaces and heritage. What are your top 3 preferences? Have we missed anything important to you? Complete our 1 minute survey here: http://www.bit.ly/handbridgesurvey

The best way forward is to follow the guidelines for the Nation Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), section 12 on Heritage, which was used for the Local Plan, but we also have other resources. Mostly there are at least two different sources we can cross-refer. Scheduled Ancient Monuments: these are covered by Historic England lists andContinue reading “Heritage Working Group Proposed Approach”

This working group will consider whether Handbridge can be sensibly divided into a small number of areas with similar design features which can then be the basis for neighbourhood development policies. Initial thinking is that there are five areas to consider: The Conservation area, Queens Park and river edge, Central area east of Eaton Road,Continue reading “Development Standards & Design Working Group Proposed Approach”

Seven forum members took part in the Zoom meeting. We have received funding from CWaC members’ budget award scheme to help with meetings and communications and we are grateful for the support of Cllr Razia Daniels and Cllr Neil Sullivan on this. We are providing updates this week on our proposed approach to ‘green spacesContinue reading “4 October forum meeting“

For a suburban area so close to the City Centre, Handbridge is fortunate to have extensive and varied green spaces within and adjacent to its boundaries. These green spaces are greatly valued by the residents of Handbridge and by residents of and visitors to Chester as a whole. The green spaces include areas for formalContinue reading “Green Spaces & Conservation Working Group Proposed Approach”