NG f L CYMRU GC a D
Farms occupy the largest proportion of Chester’s greenbelt. The majority of farms are dairy.
Chester Zoo has occupied its existing site since the 1930s. It attracts over 1.3 million visitors a year and employs approximately 500 people. The site of the estate is approx. 500 acres. At present the zoo only occupies 100 acres. The other 400 acres is greenbelt land primarily used for agriculture. Recently, the zoo has applied for permission to create a new bio-dome. The plan also includes a 90-room hotel and an educational centre. Proposals for expansion to the zoo have been met with a mixed response.
There are four Park and Ride sites around the fringe of Chester. With thousands of people parking at the edge of the city, congestion has been reduced within the CBD. Some people, however, feel that the park and ride schemes are seen as a “grey necklace” on greenbelt land and that park and ride schemes are not really public transport because people still travel by car.
Park and ride encourages car use and is therefore not sustainable. They say that, in future, money should be spent on an integrated transport system, not in the provision of another park and ride.
There are many villages around the rural urban fringe. Most villages have undergone significant suburbanisation over the past 30 years as population has grown. The exception to this are villages on land owned by the Duke of Westminster, such as Eccleston, where planning restrictions are in place.
Several sports facilities are located in the rural-urban fringe as there is significantly more space. There are several golf courses located near to Chester which has ensured land is not built upon and offers leisure facilities for local population. However, most of these golf courses are on good quality agricultural land and golf courses are a manufactured environment.
There are number of luxury hotels on the fringe of Chester. These hotels at the edge of the city are more spacious and have larger grounds.
Considering tourism makes a significant contribution to the local economy, these hotels are important. Many are also used by local businesses and have conference facilities.

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Airbus employs more than 5,000 people and builds aeroplane wings. Most jobs are in manufacturing but also in engineering and support functions such as procurement and finance. There are approximately 12,000 people in North Wales employed by companies who supply Airbus. This is on “greenbarrier land”, not in Chester’s greenbelt. Therefore, future developments on this land are not as restricted.
The edge of city location for garden centres obviously gives more space to display products. Accessibility and close parking facilities are also important factors.
Chester Business Park covers 175 acres at the edge of the city. Approximately 7,500 people are employed here. Social and economic benefits to this business park are obvious. The disadvantage is the environmental impact. Built on greenbelt land, the physical boundaries of the greenbelt were changed following completion of the business park. It also leads to increases in traffic congestion and vehicle emissions on the A55. Proposals to build an extension to the business park have been met with mixed response.
A retail park was developed in the1990’s which offered services and employment particularly for Flintshire residents. However the park is competing with existing retail centres e.g. Chester CBD.
There are two army camps on Chester’s greenbelt – Saighton and the Dale. Saighton Camp is likely to undergo redevelopment where as the Dale is currently being used by the Royal Welsh.
Recent transport developments include the A55, A41, A494 and an extension from the M56. Work on the Chester bypass officially commenced in October 2006. Some advanced environmental mitigation works did take place prior to this date and included newt translocation works. Great crested newts are a protected species under European legislation and plastic sheeting could be seen at various locations along the route to trap great crested newts. The newts were moved to the safety of nearby ponds to avoid them being harmed by the construction works.
Follow this link to view an article in the local paper discussing the development of green belt land. http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-news/local-chester-news/chester-issue/2008/06/20/should-we-sacrifice-green-belt-foreconomic-growth-59067-21124102/

NG f L CYMRU GC a D

NG f L CYMRU GC a D

NG f L CYMRU GC a D