Town centre flats return to Warrington committee

A resolution to grant approval for 76 apartments close to Bank Quay station was secured in 2022, but a Section 106 deal was never agreed – members will now consider the plans in the light of updated policies.

Thursday 14 August’s meeting of Warrington’s development management committee will consider the application, which has a statutory expiry date of 30 September.

Officers recommend that approval is granted subject to conditions and completion of a Section 106 agreement – with delegated authority given to the development manager to tie up this deal inside six months.

If no meaningful progress is made, authority should then be given to the development manger to refuse permission.

Clarke Park Equity Invest is the applicant for the scheme, on a site close south-east of Warrington’s retail core neighbouring the grade two-listed Warrington police station.

• BOOK NOW: Place RESI 2025

Close to Warrington Bank Quay station, the plot is bound by Wilson Patten Street, Arpley Street and Winmarleigh Street.

Full planning permission is sought for the demolition of existing structures and the erection of a four-storey residential development of 76 homes, including one-, two- and three-bedroom homes.

May 2022’s development management committee resolved to approve the Falconer Chester Hall-designed project subject to conditions and a S106 obligation to secure: 20% affordable housing, £49,545 for public open space/green infrastructure requirements, £51,426 towards built sports facilities; £58,596 for health; £207 per residential unit towards the town centre travel plan (total of £15,732), and a local employment scheme.

At the time there was no requirement for an education contribution as child yield from the development could be accommodated in the existing schools.

In the report for the DMC, officers acknowledge that while Section 106 negotiations “have taken some time,” a final agreement is now close. However, the delay has meant that any consent now has to comply with guidelines from the 2023 Local Plan.

This has meant an internal re-think, meaning a small reduction in the number of two-beds and increase in one-beds, to accommodate accessibility requirements. Window locations are thus altered from the initial application, and solar PVs and heat pumps are now included.

Officers stress that “significant weight” should be given to the May 2022 decision, with these policy requirements being the only other serious factors to consider – essentially saying there is no planning basis to relitigate issues such as design.

The scheme’s Warrington’s planning portal reference number is 2021/39384.

Also recommended for approval at the committee meeting is a proposal to install additional windows and add rooflights to the upper floors of the CPS Centre in Culcheth.

Applicant A Faij also wants to add cycle and bin storage and alter parking at the Common Lane site, whjich houses a part-two, part-three storey building with a Sainsbury’s and other retail at ground floor, with storage and office space above.

The plans have attracted a flurry of opposition, with 139 objections received, mostly relating to the argument that this application is a pre-cursor to a change of use bid that would see residential development at the site, thus adding pressure to local services and roads.

Two parish councils – Culcheth & Glazebury Parish Council and Croft Parish Council – are among the objectors.

This application’s reference number is 2025/00891/FUL.