Future use of land at Shotwick Park
Update on Shotwick Park project (23 January 2025)
Officers from Cheshire West and Chester Council met with Saughall Parish Council recently to discuss the Shotwick Park site. The meeting was arranged following the Council’s Cabinet agreeing that Shotwick Park should remain in public ownership and provided the opportunity for the Council’s lead officers on the project to listen to feedback from the Parish Council.
Discussions included how the Council can work collaboratively with Saughall Parish Council to ensure the views of local people are considered when developing the final plans for the site, providing residents with an opportunity to help shape the future of this green space and create a legacy for residents and future generations. As highlighted at the Council’s Cabinet meeting in November, plans will not affect public access to the footpath network on this site or the ancient scheduled monument of Shotwick Castle, ensuring the relevant requirements for funding and habitat creation are met
Further details about engaging with the community and users of the site will be shared on the Council website and via Parish Council channels when available. This will provide an opportunity for people to share ideas for the site to ensure the masterplan is reflective of how residents would wish to enhance the site to allow nature to thrive, whilst creating a space for the community to access and enjoy and playing its part to help west Cheshire become a carbon neutral borough by 2045.
At its meeting on 13 November, Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cabinet agreed that Shotwick Park in Saughall will remain in public ownership. A project has been proposed for the area which will see the establishment of woodland and habitat creation, transforming the site for the benefit of the local community and environment.
The project will support the Council’s ambition to become a carbon neutral borough by 2045, alongside its nature recovery objectives. It will also contribute to the Council’s target of establishing 150 hectares of new woodland a year, helping to grow the Mersey Forest and wider Northern Forest.
The Council will engage with local residents and the parish council and cocreate proposals for the projects as it develops. View agenda and minutes from Cabinet - Wednesday, 13 November, 2024.
View the example visuals for the site:
After view: vison of how Shotwick Park could look – view over Shotwich Castle
A vision of what could be achieved at Shotwick Park - view over Shotwick Castle
Current view over Shotwick Castle
After view: vison of how Shotwick Park could look – view over Shotwich Castle
A vision of what could be achieved at Shotwick Park - view over Shotwick Castle
After view: vision of how Shotwick Park could look - village view
A vision of what could be achieved at Shotwick Park – village view
Current view of Shotwick Park - village view
After view: vision of how Shotwick Park could look - village view
A vision of what could be achieved at Shotwick Park – village view
Shotwick Park after (image ref: 743)
Shotwick Park with text outlining future use of land (image ref: 743)
Shotwick Park before (image ref: 743)
Shotwick Park after (image ref: 743)
Shotwick Park with text outlining future use of land (image ref: 743)
Yes, the plans that are being developed will not affect public access to the footpath network on the site. The site is served by a number of adopted public footpaths including Saughall FP 1,4,7,15,16 and17 which can be viewed using the Council’s mapping system. Further details will be shared with the local community and on this webpage as plans progress.
The site of Shotwick Castle was acquired by the former County Council as part of the wider Shotwick Park Estate in 1930 and assigned to Cheshire West and Chester Council on its formation in 2009. The project will not affect the Castle, which is recorded as a scheduled monument and has statutory protections.
For any further queries, please email via: