Warrington Borough Council has updated its plan to deliver the homes, jobs, transport infrastructure and community facilities the borough needs.
The council has today published its updated Proposed Submission Version Local Plan, which will be considered by the Cabinet at its meeting on Monday 13 September. If approved, the plan will be put before the Full Council on 20 September for approval, ahead of a new, six-week period of public consultation.
Warrington’s initial, 20-year Proposed Submission Version Local Plan was published in March 2019. The council consulted extensively with local residents, businesses and other stakeholders on the plan, as part of its commitment to balance the needs of the borough with protecting the Green Belt and serving the interests of local people.
The consultation received more than 3,000 responses, and the council has taken on board many of the views of local people, much of which focused on how brownfield sites should continue to be prioritised ahead of Green Belt.
This, along with the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and changing Government housing methodology, has meant that, in preparing the updated Proposed Submission Version Local Plan, the council is proposing some big changes. These include:
• A reduction in new housing from 945 a year over 20 years, to 816 a year over a reduced plan period of 18 years (2021-2038 inclusive).
• Under the updated plan, the amount of land proposed to be removed from the Green Belt is 580 hectares, equating to 5% of the total amount of Green Belt land in the borough. This is significantly lower than the 1,210 hectares proposed in the previous Proposed Submission Version Local Plan which equated to 11% of the total amount of Green Belt.
• The removal of the South West Urban Extension from the Plan (1,600 homes), the housing allocation for Phipps Lane in Burtonwood Village (160 homes), and the Massey Brook Lane site in Lymm (66 homes).
• Moving away from the Garden Suburb concept in South Warrington (4,200 new homes), and instead including new proposals for a South East Warrington Urban Extension, with a reduced allocation of 2,400 new homes during the plan period.
• The removal of Port Warrington (75ha employment land) and the Business Hub (25ha employment land) from the plan.
• In addition, recent changes have enabled the council to include proposals which further maximise the opportunity to repurpose land, through the inclusion of the Fiddlers Ferry site for development. The closure of the power station in March 2020 has given the council the opportunity to bring the site into the allocation this time. This site was the subject of a high number of responses to our previous consultation.
Warrington Borough Council Leader, Cllr Russ Bowden, said: “Our proposed Local Plan will shape Warrington’s future and it’s vital we get it right. We remain absolutely committed to driving forward Warrington’s ambition and need for development, while protecting Green Belt wherever possible.
“In developing our Local Plan, Warrington, like all local authorities, must meet the minimum housing figures set by the Government. However, a lot has changed since we initially consulted in 2019, not least the COVID pandemic, along with confirmation of the Government’s housing methodology and local decisions such as our declarations of climate and ecological emergencies.
“Our updated plan takes all of this into account while, vitally, addressing many of the issues raised during our public consultation in 2019. We have listened to the views of local people, and acted upon them, and I believe this is reflected in the new plan.
“We are proposing a number of major changes, including a reduction in the number of new houses and a reduced plan period, from 20 years, to 18 years. This, in turn, will mean a reduced need for Green Belt allocation.
“Our 2019 plan had already committed to protecting almost 90% of our Green Belt. Under the updated plan, this is increasing even further, with 95% of existing Green Belt in our borough protected.
“I believe that our updated Local Plan - in responding to, societal, economic, environmental and policy changes - is the right fit for Warrington’s future. However, we recognise that this plan must continue to be shaped by the people of our borough. That’s why we will once again be consulting fully on the plans to ensure that everyone has the chance to share their views.”
Under government policy, every local planning authority is expected to deliver sustainable economic growth through up-to-date Local Plans which will contain strategies and initiatives to achieve their aims.
Warrington’s Local Plan aims to drive forward and support the ongoing growth and development of the borough and provide the housing, business, jobs and infrastructure the borough needs. It aims to provide first class community facilities – new schools, medical centres, shops and roads – all of which will support thriving new communities and make Warrington an attractive place to live, work and invest in.
The plan also aims to meet the needs of a growing population and future generations, by providing enough new housing – including affordable homes - so that people who want to live here can do so, and to support an ageing population and residents with disabilities to live independently.
To find out more about the updated Local Plan, visit warrington.gov.uk/localplandocuments