Shotwick Park engagement (May to June 2025) - Questions and answers

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What is this engagement about?

Cheshire West and Chester Council is working with Saughall and Shotwick Park Parish Council and The Mersey Forest to develop plans for the land at Shotwick Park and want to engage with local residents.

In February and March 2025, we asked for community feedback on an initial vision for Shotwick Park. In response to feedback, we are now pleased to share draft plans for the site for further community feedback.


How will the feedback be used?

Once this engagement closes, the Council will consider all the feedback received, to help inform final plans for the site. A summary of the findings will be published alongside final plans. If plans are agreed, work could commence on the land at Shotwick Park in late summer 2025.


How can I share my feedback on draft plans?

There are a number of ways you can share your feedback:

Attend a drop-in session to talk to the project team:

  • Wednesday, 14 May, 3.30pm – 7.30pm at Saughall All Saints C of E Primary School, Church Road
  • Friday, 16 May, 10am – 3pm at The Vernon Institute, Church Road
  • Saturday, 24 May, 9am – 1.30pm at Saughall Farmers Market, The Vernon Institute

Alternatively, you can also:

  • Complete a feedback form here
  • Email: biodiversity@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
  • Write to: Shotwick Park, Planning & Placemaking, Chester HQ, 58 Nicholas Street, Chester, CH1 2NP
  • Telephone: 0300 123 8123 quoting ‘Shotwick Park engagement’
  • Paper copies and alternative formats are also available on request using the contact details above


How long do I have to respond?

This engagement will be open online until Sunday 8 June.


Why are the timescales so short?

In order to access funding connected to the Trees for Climate programme, ground preparation work need to commence in late summer 2025, in order to allow the first phase of tree planting to start in winter 2025/26.


Where is Shotwick Park?

Shotwick Park is an area of 150 hectares of land comprising of pasture, woodland, arable land and an area of historic parkland. The land is located in Saughall, to the north-west of Seahill Road and Church Road and south of the A494. There is also land either side of Lodge Lane, with the majority lying south of the lane. It does not include a section of land in the middle of this area, where the Shotwick Castle ancient monument is located.


What is happening to the land at Shotwick Park?

In November 2024, Cheshire West and Chester Council took the decision to retain the land at Shotwick Park.

The Council is now exploring ways to help ensure that the site reflects the needs and aspirations of local people and protects the historic and ecological assets of the site, whilst attracting enough external funding, grants and other income to sustain the management of this land into the future.


What are the draft plans for Shotwick Park?

In response to community feedback, draft plans for the site include:

  • Creation of a community woodland in keeping with current historic woodland
  • Maintaining and enhancing current woodland, hedgerows and habitats
  • Maintaining and improving access to nature for local people
  • Opportunities for the community to get involved in helping manage the area

Full information about draft plans is available here.


Would the plans affect public access?

The project would not affect public access to the footpath network on the site.


Would the plans affect Shotwick Castle?

The project would not affect the site of Shotwick Castle, which is recorded as a scheduled monument and has statutory protections.

Why is a new community woodland proposed?

Enhancing the land at Shotwick Park is dependent on the creation of a new community woodland on the site, which would bring in funding from The Mersey Forest’s Trees for Climate programme. The Mersey Forest works alongside communities and partners to create woodlands and help people explore and connect with nature. The funding would also provide further opportunities to safeguard the future management of the park.

Why is this an open engagement, not just for Saughall and Shotwick Park residents?

The engagement is targeted at the Saughall and Shotwick Park community and leaflets will be delivered to households in the parish. The Council is holding drop-ins in the local area to speak to residents about the draft plans.

Keeping this engagement open ensures that the Council doesn’t miss anyone out. Questions on the feedback form enable the Council to bring together and draw out the views of Saughall and Shotwick Park residents and compare any differences in views. For example, the form asks whether respondents are a resident of Saughall and Shotwick Park and for their postcode.


Will you share the results of this engagement?

Yes, a summary of the findings will be published on the engagement webpage alongside the finalised plans for the site.


If you have any further questions about the engagement please email us at: biodiversity@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Please click here to return to the engagement homepage.

What is this engagement about?

Cheshire West and Chester Council is working with Saughall and Shotwick Park Parish Council and The Mersey Forest to develop plans for the land at Shotwick Park and want to engage with local residents.

In February and March 2025, we asked for community feedback on an initial vision for Shotwick Park. In response to feedback, we are now pleased to share draft plans for the site for further community feedback.


How will the feedback be used?

Once this engagement closes, the Council will consider all the feedback received, to help inform final plans for the site. A summary of the findings will be published alongside final plans. If plans are agreed, work could commence on the land at Shotwick Park in late summer 2025.


How can I share my feedback on draft plans?

There are a number of ways you can share your feedback:

Attend a drop-in session to talk to the project team:

  • Wednesday, 14 May, 3.30pm – 7.30pm at Saughall All Saints C of E Primary School, Church Road
  • Friday, 16 May, 10am – 3pm at The Vernon Institute, Church Road
  • Saturday, 24 May, 9am – 1.30pm at Saughall Farmers Market, The Vernon Institute

Alternatively, you can also:

  • Complete a feedback form here
  • Email: biodiversity@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
  • Write to: Shotwick Park, Planning & Placemaking, Chester HQ, 58 Nicholas Street, Chester, CH1 2NP
  • Telephone: 0300 123 8123 quoting ‘Shotwick Park engagement’
  • Paper copies and alternative formats are also available on request using the contact details above


How long do I have to respond?

This engagement will be open online until Sunday 8 June.


Why are the timescales so short?

In order to access funding connected to the Trees for Climate programme, ground preparation work need to commence in late summer 2025, in order to allow the first phase of tree planting to start in winter 2025/26.


Where is Shotwick Park?

Shotwick Park is an area of 150 hectares of land comprising of pasture, woodland, arable land and an area of historic parkland. The land is located in Saughall, to the north-west of Seahill Road and Church Road and south of the A494. There is also land either side of Lodge Lane, with the majority lying south of the lane. It does not include a section of land in the middle of this area, where the Shotwick Castle ancient monument is located.


What is happening to the land at Shotwick Park?

In November 2024, Cheshire West and Chester Council took the decision to retain the land at Shotwick Park.

The Council is now exploring ways to help ensure that the site reflects the needs and aspirations of local people and protects the historic and ecological assets of the site, whilst attracting enough external funding, grants and other income to sustain the management of this land into the future.


What are the draft plans for Shotwick Park?

In response to community feedback, draft plans for the site include:

  • Creation of a community woodland in keeping with current historic woodland
  • Maintaining and enhancing current woodland, hedgerows and habitats
  • Maintaining and improving access to nature for local people
  • Opportunities for the community to get involved in helping manage the area

Full information about draft plans is available here.


Would the plans affect public access?

The project would not affect public access to the footpath network on the site.


Would the plans affect Shotwick Castle?

The project would not affect the site of Shotwick Castle, which is recorded as a scheduled monument and has statutory protections.

Why is a new community woodland proposed?

Enhancing the land at Shotwick Park is dependent on the creation of a new community woodland on the site, which would bring in funding from The Mersey Forest’s Trees for Climate programme. The Mersey Forest works alongside communities and partners to create woodlands and help people explore and connect with nature. The funding would also provide further opportunities to safeguard the future management of the park.

Why is this an open engagement, not just for Saughall and Shotwick Park residents?

The engagement is targeted at the Saughall and Shotwick Park community and leaflets will be delivered to households in the parish. The Council is holding drop-ins in the local area to speak to residents about the draft plans.

Keeping this engagement open ensures that the Council doesn’t miss anyone out. Questions on the feedback form enable the Council to bring together and draw out the views of Saughall and Shotwick Park residents and compare any differences in views. For example, the form asks whether respondents are a resident of Saughall and Shotwick Park and for their postcode.


Will you share the results of this engagement?

Yes, a summary of the findings will be published on the engagement webpage alongside the finalised plans for the site.


If you have any further questions about the engagement please email us at: biodiversity@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Please click here to return to the engagement homepage.