PLANS for a new ‘country park’ and urban woodland in Cheshire West have now been revealed to the public.

The proposals for the 35 hectare site have been developed by Cheshire West and Chester Council's (CWAC) planning department, working with The Mersey Forest and Bellway Homes, and include parkland, wetlands, hedgerows, managed woodland, areas of natural rewilding, several naturalistic ponds, and a children’s play area.  

The country park will surround Bellway’s new Rose Meadow housing development, which is accessed along Artisan Way from London Road, though further pedestrian access routes have been proposed from other areas of the town.

Some residents were disappointed the revealed plans do not include a footbridge over the River Dane which had been proposed as part of an earlier planning in application in 2015. 

Chester and District Standard: Earlier proposals would have see the bridge within the red square (Google)Earlier proposals would have see the bridge within the red square (Google) (Image: Google)

The proposed bridge would have opened up routes through the park connecting other areas of accessible open space around the town, giving Northwich residents access to one of the largest areas of contiguous woodland of any town in the UK.

Cheshire West and Northwich town councillor, Andrew Cooper, said: “The River Dane has a unique hydrology, meaning a bridge would have to span a very large area to accommodate the shifting. It would be quite a project.

“But the bridge is not the be all and end all.

 "This project will add something like 35 hectares of new tree planting - a significant wedge of CWAC's annual planting target as part of our Climate Emergency declaration. 

"It will also create new habitats and provide a network of paths around the valley for anyone to enjoy.

Landscape architect for the project, John Seiler, said: “A footbridge over the River Dane to link the park with Northwich’s other wooded areas has not been entirely shelved, though it is not proposed in this part of the development.

“It remains one of our long-term objectives, as the better access we create, the more public benefit is gleaned from the project.”

The plans were revealed at a public consultation meeting, held at Brio’s memorial, on Wednesday, January 18, and there will be another meeting on Saturday, January 28, between 9am and midday, for those who were unable to attend.