Introduction
It is with great pride that we present Chorley Council’s Corporate Strategy 2025/2026, a document that sets out our vision and priorities for the borough. As a council deeply rooted in our community, we recognise the important role we play in shaping Chorley’s future and ensuring our borough continues to thrive for everyone who lives, works, and visits here.
Our strategy sets out a shared commitment to making Chorley a place where opportunity, wellbeing, and sustainability are at the heart of our local decision-making. We have listened to the aspirations and challenges of residents, businesses and other partners, and have identified key projects that will meet the needs of our communities.
The coming years will bring both opportunities and challenges, from the economy to climate change, the need for inclusive growth as well as local government reforms. We are determined to build on our achievements, invest in regeneration, support our residents, and champion environmental responsibility. This strategy provides a foundation for achieving these goals while remaining flexible to adapt to changing circumstances.
Over the coming year, we will continue to deliver high quality core council services, whilst investing resources into preserving important cultural assets, redeveloping the town centre and enhancing council leisure facilities to encourage physical and mental wellbeing. We will also work to improve housing standards, maximise the availability of affordable housing, help our children in the early years of their life, and support young people into employment, education and training.
The success of this strategy will depend on ongoing collaboration, and we look forward to working with our many partners in achieving change and impact in our communities and making it happen in Chorley.
Cllr Alistair Bradley
Leader of Chorley Council
Our Vision
Enabling strong communities, a resilient economy, excellent services, a greener future and successful people.
Housing where residents can live well
Access to clean, safe and decent homes should be the starting point, not an aspiration
Our commitment
- Deliver affordable and energy efficient housing
- Strive for good quality housing for all
- Work with partners supporting new ways to prevent homelessness
- Support our most vulnerable residents
We will
- Maximise the availability of affordable housing in the borough - by increasing the number and types of affordable homes that are available, to increase opportunities for residents to stay in their own communities, through the planning system, improvements to the Select Move system, and the direct delivery of affordable housing
- Develop and deliver the HMO (House of Multiple Occupancy) Action Plan and implement the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act - to ensure high housing standards across the borough
- Deliver the minor aids and adaptations programme through the Better Care Fund - to ensure that homes are safe and accessible and that residents can maintain independence in their own homes
- Complete the delivery of temporary accommodation at Gillibrand Street - by developing the commercial units 17-23 Gillibrand Street into temporary accommodation to help house larger families who are experiencing homelessness
Measuring success
- fewer than 150 long-term empty properties in the borough
- 75 affordable homes delivered
- 60% homelessness cases prevented.
A green and sustainable borough
Green is about being responsible now for tomorrow’s future
Our commitment
- Work towards our commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030
- Support waste reduction, reuse and recycling
- Work with partners to retain natural habitats and improve air quality
- Promote sustainable transport and infrastructure
We will
- Refresh the Climate Change Strategy - to identify actions which will support the borough to be greener, reduce carbon emissions and protect our environment
- Deliver the Biodiversity Strategy - to meet the council’s duty to protect and enhance biodiversity and nature across the borough
- Introduce weekly food waste collections - to implement 2026 government reforms which aim to improve recycling and reduce the impact of food waste on the environment
- Complete renovations to the West Wing and enhance the visitor experience at Astley Hall - to support the ongoing preservation of one of our most important heritage assets and improve the visitor experience
- Deliver a decarbonisation programme for council buildings - by implementing a low carbon programme across the Town Hall, All Seasons Leisure Centre, Brinscall Swimming Baths and two of our community centres, to reduce carbon emissions and deliver cost efficiencies
Measuring success
- 6 improvements to parks, open spaces and playing pitches linked to strategy delivery
- Number of climate change strategy actions completed
- 43% of household waste sent for reuse, recycling or composting
An enterprising economy with vibrant local centres in urban and rural areas
Working with businesses and people to realise their potential
Our commitment
- Support business growth and expansion across the borough
- Work with partners to support skills development and innovation
- Work with partners to promote the district as a visitor destination and attract investment in our local service centres
- Promote the green economy
We will
- Continue the delivery of Town Centre Transformation - by commencing the construction of regeneration improvements in Chorley town centre to create multiuse community spaces for leisure, residential and business use
- Deliver year 2 of the Destination Management Plan - to support the sustainable growth of Chorley’s visitor economy as a premier visitor destination
- Continue to deliver the plan that has been developed to reduce the number of NEETs in the borough - to support those aged 16-17 who are not in education, employment or training
- Bring forward the development of the Woodlands Site - to deliver a residential development alongside space for educational and commercial use to meet the needs of the community
Measuring success
- 2% increase in visitor numbers
- 150 projected jobs created through Chorley Council support or intervention
- % of 16 to 17 year olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) will be better than the Lancashire average
- 450 business engagements by the council
- m2 of employment floor space created
Healthy, safe and engaged communities
Across the borough communities have the tools and ability to achieve their best
Our commitment
- Support and encourage active lifestyles and health and wellbeing
- Reshaping of leisure services
- Deliver events and places to go for everyone
- Ensure all residents of all ages can access the services they need, physically and digitally
- Promote resilient, cohesive neighbourhoods by listening and responding
- Work with partners to join up public services so that they make sense for everyone
We will
- Develop a structured approach to support for the voluntary and community sector - by creating a reward programme for volunteers and providing support to community groups across the borough
- Complete the refurbishment of All Seasons Leisure Centre - to deliver improvements to enhance local leisure facilities and support health and wellbeing
- Deliver a project to support school readiness - by working with partners to support reading in families, enabling young people to thrive
- Support transitional arrangements for Local Government Reorganisation - by establishing effective partnership working with other councils to support the development of transitional plans and arrangements for Local Government Reorganisation and ensure organisational readiness
Measuring success
- 340,000 visits to council leisure centres
- 70% average improvement in wellbeing score following support from the council
- 60% of service requests received online
- 200 community groups supported and developed by the council
- 80% of customers satisfied with the service received when they contacted the council
- % of households living in fuel poverty will be better than regional average