Update – September 2025
Following a successful referendum, the parish council are pleased to shared that the Neighbourhood Plan for Dunham on the Hill and Hapsford is now ‘made’ meaning that it now forms part of the Development Plan for Cheshire West and Chester and will be taken into account in local planning decisions. Please see the link below for more information and copies of the documents and decision process.
Dunham on the Hill and Hapsford Neighbourhood Plan – Made – Details – Keystone
The parish council would like to thank the residents of the parish for the support and feedback throughout the process and to those people who were able to take part in the referendum. We will use the plan and design code to ensure that development within the parish is in keeping with the priorities and policy areas outlined in both documents upholding the vision for the plan which was stated on the front cover:
‘Dunham on the Hill and Hapsford is a friendly and welcoming community, across two villages, where residents of all ages feel safe, valued and enjoy an excellent quality of life. It is set within an attractive landscape and enjoying easy access to facilities and the countryside. It is a parish full of character, and heritage within a rural setting. The neighbourhood plan will work to ensure that this will continue to be so for the generations who follow’
Neighbourhood Plan Update – July 2025
All documents related to the plan (Plan, Consultation Statement, Basic Conditions) were reviewed by an independent examiner along with comments made during the Regulation 16 consultation. The examiner concluded that subject to a small number of amendments, the Plan met the Basic Conditions and should proceed to referendum stage.
The CWaC Cabinet Member approval was then secured confirming that the Plan should proceed to referendum.
The Neighbourhood Plan referendum will take place on Thursday 28 August 2025. All residents entitled to vote will receive a polling card. In the referendum eligible residents will be asked – Do you want Cheshire West and Chester to use the neighbourhood plan for Dunham on the Hill and Hapsford to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?
We encourage all residents to take part in the referendum and take the opportunity to have their say in how development in the parish should look.
The plan has policy areas designed to achieve the vision:
In 2030 Dunham on the Hill and Hapsford will remain a friendly and welcoming community, where residents of all ages feel safe, valued and enjoy an excellent quality of life. The parish will remain set within an attractive landscape and enjoying easy access to facilities and the countryside. Any new development will be sustainable and maintain the separate nature of each of the villages of Dunham on the Hill and Hapsford with the appropriate infrastructure to meet the needs of all residents, whilst conserving and enhancing the local character, heritage and the natural and built environment.
This will be achieved through the following land use policies:
- Local Green Spaces
- Incidental Open Spaces of Community Value
- Wildlife and Biodiversity
- Dunham and Hapsford Design Code
- Hapsford Area of Special Character
- Local Heritage Assets
- Housing development: site of the former Wheatsheaf public house
- Protecting community facilities and assets
- Sustainable urban drainage and flood mitigation
- Renewable energy generation
As a parish council, we feel we have worked closely with residents, landowners and developers to bring together all voices in a plan that will ensure that future development within the parish meets the needs of the residents and preserves the welcoming and friendly community set across two villages. The parish is full of character and heritage within a rural setting. The plan and design code will work to preserve the character and heritage of the parish so that generations coming after us will be able to enjoy life here in the same way their ancestors have.
Examiners Comments
Examiner’s Report for the Dunham on the Hill and Hapsford Neighbourhood Plan is now available and information has been passed to Cheshire West and Chester Council to complete the final referendum stage.
Examiners Procedural Outline
The consultation period for the Neighbourhood Development Plan has now closed and Cheshire West and Chester have gathered together any comments received on the Neighbourhood Plan at the Publicity stage. These comments will now be considered by the Examiner. The Examiners Procedural Process is available for review.
Publication of the Dunham on the Hill and Hapsford Neighbourhood Development Plan
The Dunham on the Hill and Hapsford Neighbourhood Development Plan has now been submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended).
The six week consultation during which interested parties can make comments on the plan ran from 27 February to 5pm on Thursday 10 April 2025.
If you would like to see a copy of the proposed neighbourhood plan and supporting documents, please go to the neighbourhood planning page of the Cheshire West and Chester Council website at:
www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/neighbourhoodplanning
Hard copies of the proposed neighbourhood plan were also available in the following locations during the consultation period:
- Mobile Library (for routes and dates see https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/libraries/find-a-library/mobile-library-service)
- Helsby Library, Lower Robin Hood Lane, Helsby, WA6 0BE (Monday and Friday 9.30am-1pm, 2-5pm; Tuesday and Wednesday 9.30am-1pm, 2-7pm; Saturday 9.30am-1pm)
- Boshaw Centre, Dunham-on-the-Hill, Frodsham WA6 0LX (Monday 10am-12pm; Wednesday 6-7.30pm; Sunday 12-2pm (Sundays from 23 March by appointment only – email clerk.dunhamhillpc@gmail.com to arrange).
- The Parish Clerk has a spare copy if you are unable to visit the above locations (clerk.dunhamhillpc@gmail.com).
The basic conditions are that the neighbourhood plan:
- has appropriate regard to national policy
- contributes to the achievement of sustainable development
- is in general conformity with the strategic policies in the development plan for the local area
- is compatible with human rights requirements
- is compatible with EU obligations
If you would like to be notified of the Council’s decision on whether to accept the Examiner’s recommendation and future progress with the plan, then please state this in your representation.
Meeting notes and reports:-
Dunham on the Hill and Hapsford Neighbourhood Plan – Pre-Submission