Warrington Green Belt scheme wins on appeal

Emery Planning has secured approval for the creation of 31 homes in Hatton for Thomas Jones & Sons.

The nearly four-acre site is currently used as a livery business and holds stables, paddocks and other storage facilities. It is located within the Green Belt.

Thomas Jones & Sons had submitted plans to demolish the existing buildings and construct a mixture of detached, semi-detached and terraced homes. The BN Associates-designed project also included affordable housing and a landscaped community space with both pathways and an orchard.

Warrington Borough Council had initially refused the scheme because of its location, which the council argued would make residents reliant on a car. However, Emery Planning argued in its appeal that there was a sheltered bus stop within 300 metres of the entrance to the site that offered regular services to both Warrington and Stretton. A footpath on the site would also connect residents to a local pub. Stretton and Daresbury, Emery argued, are also within 2km walking and cycling distance from the development.

It was an argument that won over the planning inspector.

“I acknowledge that the environment surrounding the appeal site does not provide a high level of access to local services and facilities by all other means of transport,” the planning inspector said in their decision on the appeal. “However, there are a good number of services within 2km of the site and walking, cycling and public transport are all available to varying degrees.

“These alternatives, alone or in combination, alongside the proposed infrastructure for electric vehicles and implementation of a travel plan, mean there would be sustainable forms of transport for future residents to avail of, which would reduce reliance on petrol and diesel cars.”

The appeal was strengthened by Warrington Council not being able to show a five-year housing land supply.

Emery Planning director Alison Freeman was the lead on the planning appeal for the scheme.

“This is a considered development, providing a good mix of high-quality homes in a desirable and convenient location,” she said. “The scheme, which will deliver the first affordable homes and public open space in the village, deserved approval and we are delighted to have secured it for our client.”

Barnes Walker Landscape, SCP Transport and KSA Heritage supported the appeal.

Your Comments

Read our comments policy

Help us fight to protect our countryside – join us on Facebook at Warrington Action Against Inappropriate Development.

By Keeping it green

Wanting economic growth for any place requires accepting that is both growth in the jobs AND the homes of people who will fulfill them. Growth is people, not stats.

By Anonymous

Transport links in Hatton are dreadful and there’s literally 2 pubs and an over-subscribed medical centre within 2km.

Although you can’t exactly walk to the medical centre and one of the pubs (both 2km away), since there’s no footpath along the road.

Awful planning decision! Inspector got it wrong!

By Disgruntled Warringtonian

Maybe Warrington should have a plan for its housing supply.

By Rich X

I’m concerned by the inspector’s view that reducing reliance on petrol and diesel cars is a good thing. We have a climate emergency. We can’t just reduce reliance, or make sure that people have alternatives “to avail of” but, rather, have (as a matter of urgency) to ensure there needs to be no reliance whatsoever with alternatives that are both the default and preferable choice for every journey. In the context of a climate emergency any scheme which cannot achieve that default and preferable choice position should not be acceptable, otherwise it is simply adding to the burden of the existing problem that needs to be addressed by someone else.

By Martin Cranmer

Keeping It Green, absolutely nothing inappropriate about this development: re-use of previously developed land, accessible by public transport, or by cycle, near to a local hospitality business (reliant on local customers to stay in business) as well as other local service centres, affordable homes provided, community open space, etc etc.

What an utter waste of public money defending this at Planning Appeal… you understand your council tax funded that losing battle? Just don’t complain when it goes up next year.

And people wonder why we have a catastrophic housing shortage in this country when so much time, effort and money is required to get even the most straightforward of scheme through the planning system.

By Captain Sensible

There’s nothing accessible or sustainable about this site whatsoever!! It’s in the middle of nowhere and it’s residents will be entirely car dependent. Didn’t Warrington declare a climate change emergency?

There are far better, sustainable sites (both greenfield, Greenbelt and non-greenfield) for development located closer to the town, near bus stops with very regular services, shops, schools and other facilities.

I’m not opposed to new housing or even building in the Green Belt. The location just needs to be correct!

By Dave

Captain Sensible: ‘an utter waste of public money?’ try Homes England using public money to destroy our countryside to build unaffordable executive homes when there are 1,500+ unoccupied residential properties across Warrington which could be brought back in to use. How is building executive homes of £350,000 + going to solve the housing crisis when these homes are being marketed to foreign investors. Please enlighten me.

By Anonymous

Related Articles

Sign up to receive the Place Daily Briefing

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox

Subscribe

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

"*" indicates required fields

Your Job Field*
Other regional Publications - select below