CHESTER ONE CITY PLAN: 2022-2045
at glance:
Background and Context
o This is a refresh of Chester’s One City Plan (OCP), which follows an earlier version that was originally published in 2012.
o For the past 10 years Chester’s OCP has provided a framework for the development and enhancement of the city.
o Successful schemes from the OCP include Storyhouse, the Boughton Corridor, Northgate Development (phase 1) and the new Bus interchange at Gorsestacks.
The recent OCP and it’s Core Elements
o The new plan outlines a refreshed vision for Chester – ‘Proud of its history, confident about its future, Chester is a unique city that prioritises inclusivity and sustainability to ensure a healthier, greener and fairer future for all its people’.
o The Plan is firmly positioned within the United Nations ’ Sustainable Development Goals and the council’s 2045 Net Zero targets.
o The OCP aims to achieve this through four key themes and ‘bold ambitions’ for each:
City Experience and Play
· Develop a city experience placing people and play at its heart that celebrates its heritage and becomes a modern, well-connected culturally rich place with a vibrant evening economy.
Connectivity and Accessibility
· Become an accessible city with seamless transport links providing safe passage for all modes of transport.
Thriving People and Communities
· Prioritise and ensure the people living in the city and surrounding neighbourhoods thrive by having the necessary infrastructure and supporting services.
Business-Friendly Economy and Skills
· Make Chester the place to invest and grow by supporting innovators, individuals, graduates, SME’s, and multinationals with quality coworking hubs and investing in skills and training to retain talent.
o Following the Council ratification of the OCP these themes were translated into 45 ‘Actions’ to be delivered by 2045.
How Will it be Delivered?
o The plan is owned by the city and was developed through consultation with thousands of residents. The Council and its partners in the public, private, community, voluntary, education and faith sectors intend to shape the delivery of the 45 OCP ‘Actions’ through an evolving governance structure comprising five working groups::
Being in Chester
Experiencing Chester
Making Chester
Connecting Chester
Visiting Chester.
How Does it Determine Success?
o A dashboard to measure progress and performance will be developed to highlight the delivery of key projects in the city which chart progress against actions in the One City Plan.
o Key performance indicators will sit alongside each action and will be measured against ‘The Chester Test’ (outlined in the plan).