The Rural Area and Market Towns are symbolic of Cheshire and are a distinctive mosaic of wonderful countryside and vibrant market towns. It is a place that accommodates a significant resident population and a substantial part of the Cheshire economy in agriculture, agri-tech, food & drink sectors and visitor economy, but also a thriving small business community. It is a distinctive destination in its own right, where the quality of the environment and built heritage is conserved and managed as part of a balanced approach to maximising its unique potential and fundamental role in the very fabric of West Cheshire.

The Rural Growth Team, along with key partners, co-ordinate projects that will improve growth of the economy in Rural Cheshire West and Chester borough. These projects are part of the revised and updated Rural Growth Strategy 2016-2019 which guides the future economic growth of the area. The main aims of the strategy are:

Connectivity

Re-enforcing the role of rural areas and towns as sustainable locations and recognising them as complementary to neighbouring urban centres. Improved connectivity to these areas raises their profile for potential new businesses and workers.

Destination Branding

An enterprise branch which establishes the rural area as a place for start-ups, innovation and a strong visitor economy and continuing to enforce a mind-set that places the Rural Area and Market Towns as home to a thriving business community. Separate but complementary to this, a visitor economy brand which is significantly stronger and more direct.

Cheshire West Rural Investment Prospectus (PDF, 3MB)