Local plan scoping consultation

The canal network plays an important role in respect to employment connected to boating/mooring/leisure and tourism.

The Trust welcomes the acknowledgement of the importance of canal at para. 4.14.
There are almost 80 miles (128km) of Trust owned and maintained canal within East Cheshire, which contributes to the character and distinctiveness of places. Canal corridors should be considered early in the planning process, particularly within larger growth areas, where they can provide landscape structure, improve connections (active travel), and support biodiversity. They should also be recognised as key features that help shape development and create distinctive places.

The canal network in Cheshire East hosts National Cycle Network routes and adopted footpaths/bridleways (on the towpath) and therefore plays a central role in enabling active travel and opportunities to reduce reliance on travel by private cars. This critical role of the canal network needs to be embedded in the new Local Plan review.

The canal network in Cheshire East is extensive and its importance feeds into so many of their key themes, both in terms of recognising inherent value and the services it provides but also the potential it has to contribute significantly to wider priorities around nature recovery and connectedness, green/blue corridors, climate change adaptation etc.

Creation of new community and recreation facilities can provide opportunities for people to access activities on and by water (with associated benefits). Towpaths can provide traffic free walking wheeling and cycling routes (with investment), especially in rural areas where highway routes are not always user-friendly.

Dust pollution during Construction Works

Construction works can impact adjacent waterways by reason of dust pollution. Where relevant, a dust impact assessment can be submitted as part of, or in addition to the air quality assessment. The Trust request for any policy to give consideration to the potential impact on adjacent environments during the construction stage of development, which may include the submission of dust management plans to safeguard adjacent environments/waterways during the construction phase.

Our purpose is to achieve a sustainable future for our network of canals, keeping them open, making them resilient and safe, and maximising their value for people. The Trust is committed to encouraging the sustainable use of our canal and towpath network, which is heavily dependent upon canals and towpaths being safe and inviting places to visit, use and enjoy.
The Trust would seek for planning policy within the Local Plan, to reflect the importance of maintaining and safeguarding the canal/towpath network and green infrastructure and in the interests of ensuring that canals remain a resilient and welcoming space for all to enjoy its multifunctional offer. This includes creating the conditions necessary for delivering the wide range of public benefits offered by our canals, through:

- removing the barriers to use and enjoyment in order to offer communities clean, safe and inviting blue spaces and routes to use and enjoy; and
- maintaining and improving the resilience of the waterway infrastructure so that the network is open and safe to use.

We are committed to creating waterways that are safe, attractive and thriving green and blue spaces by improving perception of these environments and creating safe, accessible and inviting places.
Creating safe, accessible and inviting canal environments is our priority and the Trust would seek for planning policy that helps to create waterside places that are safe and inviting through appropriate design and layout, that encourages active water frontages and passive surveillance, being inclusive, and effective maintenance and management of such environments to be fit for purpose.

Providing a sense of ownership can encourage use and engagement with waterway environments, along with appropriate access and management. Some of our canals have Green Flag status, which amongst other aims, advocates spaces are appropriately managed and meet the needs of the communities that they serve.

The Trust has prepared some guidance on successful waterside design principles, which are available on our website.
Please find a link below.

Creating successful waterside places | planning and design | Canal & River Trust (canalrivertrust.org.uk)
Planning and design | Our specialist teams | Canal & River Trust (canalrivertrust.org.uk)

Towpaths can provide traffic free walking wheeling and cycling routes (with investment), especially in rural areas where highway routes are not always user-friendly. Whilst positive Local Plan policies can be used to increase the recognition and use of the canal network, this would need to be proportionately aligned with increased financial contributions (from S106 agreements) to improve the canal environment to accommodate greater patronage and usage.

The canal network represents a strategic recreational network and wellbeing/green-blue environment resource, that should require specific protection within the new Local Plan.

There should also a stronger focus on section 5.128 regarding conservation area appraisals, which currently reads as- 'the adequacy of existing conservation area appraisals and management plans may also be reviewed'. There are conservation areas currently without any appraisal, including the Kent Green (Trent & Mersey Canal), Wrenbury (Llangollen Canal) and Audlem (Shropshire Union Canal) Conservation Areas, which affects three waterways with considerable heritage value.
*The Trust considers that there should be stronger focus on ensuring that conservation area appraisals are developed for all that are currently missing one, and risk unsympathetic development