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Areas for action - Land use and adaptation

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The way we use local land plays an important part in how the food we eat is produced and how the natural environment and biodiversity is affected. Land use and management affects river catchments, courses, and underground water sources and that can impact drinking water quality and water used in industrial processes, including food manufacturing. Freshwater aquatic life and, eventually, the sea water environment can also be impacted by the water quality in rivers.

Land use activities including farming, tree planting and improving habitats and biodiversity, are important in helping the area adapt to the effects of climate and nature emergencies, such as heatwaves and flooding.

As we develop the borough’s Climate Emergency Response Plan, it is important to understand residents’ views on how these activities could be used to shape the Plan for the next five years and beyond. Managing land use will help us to enhance nature, improve air quality, reduce pollution, and ensure we all have great places to live, work and enjoy.

More information on this area for action can be found in the Plan in the section titled Land Use, Adaptation and Climate Repair.

Proposed outcomes for the borough if we managed to reduce emissions from land use and adapt to the effects of climate change by 2030.

Please note, these are borough-wide outcomes, and as well as requiring action from the Council, they will also depend on the action of a wide range of people and organisations, including residents.

O28: Net zero farming and land use adopted across the borough, such as via increased uptake of regenerative farming techniques, which can reduce the need for artificial fertiliser.

O29: Reduce the use of nutrient and chemical use to help cut pollution on land and water.

O30: Thriving aquatic life and improved water quality.

O31: Regenerated and improved soil health – which should lead to reduced soil erosion.

O32: Recovering species and increasing biodiversity.

O33: Reduced flooding events and impacts.

O34: Greener and cooler urban environments.

To achieve these outcomes for land use and adaptation, the Council proposes to take the following action.

A36: Establish, maintain, and manage woodlands and other habitats on Council farms for carbon sequestration and biodiversity net gain (BNG)

A37: Support the development and implementation of borough-wide anaerobic digestion scheme(s), ensuring the majority of dairy herds are carbon neutral and improve air quality (AD), and that livestock waste is recycled to reduce water pollution.

A38: Promote low carbon, regenerative, sustainable, agro-ecological farming methods.

A39: Support allotments and local food growing.

A40: Support adoption and implementation of Environmental Land Management (ELMs) policies including the sustainable farming incentive.

A41: Develop and implement the Local Plan strategy and policies and manage development within the borough to attain Net Zero, install sustainable urban drainage (SuDS) to reduce flooding events in vulnerable areas during high rainfall periods.

A42: Support the development and implementation of the Cheshire wide local nature recovery strategy (LNRS), which is currently being developed, including peat management and restoration.

A43: Enhance urban green infrastructure which includes parks, gardens, trees, allotments, woodlands, fields, hedges and wildlife friendly and permeable gardens in our city, towns and villages.

A44: Manage river catchments and riparian woodlands using natural flood management techniques cover cropping to reduce flooding, point source pollution events and improve water quality and infiltration rates for future abstraction.

A45: Enabling access to local, regional and national grants for sustainable land use, and securing these for the Council where appropriate.

The way we use local land plays an important part in how the food we eat is produced and how the natural environment and biodiversity is affected. Land use and management affects river catchments, courses, and underground water sources and that can impact drinking water quality and water used in industrial processes, including food manufacturing. Freshwater aquatic life and, eventually, the sea water environment can also be impacted by the water quality in rivers.

Land use activities including farming, tree planting and improving habitats and biodiversity, are important in helping the area adapt to the effects of climate and nature emergencies, such as heatwaves and flooding.

As we develop the borough’s Climate Emergency Response Plan, it is important to understand residents’ views on how these activities could be used to shape the Plan for the next five years and beyond. Managing land use will help us to enhance nature, improve air quality, reduce pollution, and ensure we all have great places to live, work and enjoy.

More information on this area for action can be found in the Plan in the section titled Land Use, Adaptation and Climate Repair.

Proposed outcomes for the borough if we managed to reduce emissions from land use and adapt to the effects of climate change by 2030.

Please note, these are borough-wide outcomes, and as well as requiring action from the Council, they will also depend on the action of a wide range of people and organisations, including residents.

O28: Net zero farming and land use adopted across the borough, such as via increased uptake of regenerative farming techniques, which can reduce the need for artificial fertiliser.

O29: Reduce the use of nutrient and chemical use to help cut pollution on land and water.

O30: Thriving aquatic life and improved water quality.

O31: Regenerated and improved soil health – which should lead to reduced soil erosion.

O32: Recovering species and increasing biodiversity.

O33: Reduced flooding events and impacts.

O34: Greener and cooler urban environments.

To achieve these outcomes for land use and adaptation, the Council proposes to take the following action.

A36: Establish, maintain, and manage woodlands and other habitats on Council farms for carbon sequestration and biodiversity net gain (BNG)

A37: Support the development and implementation of borough-wide anaerobic digestion scheme(s), ensuring the majority of dairy herds are carbon neutral and improve air quality (AD), and that livestock waste is recycled to reduce water pollution.

A38: Promote low carbon, regenerative, sustainable, agro-ecological farming methods.

A39: Support allotments and local food growing.

A40: Support adoption and implementation of Environmental Land Management (ELMs) policies including the sustainable farming incentive.

A41: Develop and implement the Local Plan strategy and policies and manage development within the borough to attain Net Zero, install sustainable urban drainage (SuDS) to reduce flooding events in vulnerable areas during high rainfall periods.

A42: Support the development and implementation of the Cheshire wide local nature recovery strategy (LNRS), which is currently being developed, including peat management and restoration.

A43: Enhance urban green infrastructure which includes parks, gardens, trees, allotments, woodlands, fields, hedges and wildlife friendly and permeable gardens in our city, towns and villages.

A44: Manage river catchments and riparian woodlands using natural flood management techniques cover cropping to reduce flooding, point source pollution events and improve water quality and infiltration rates for future abstraction.

A45: Enabling access to local, regional and national grants for sustainable land use, and securing these for the Council where appropriate.