Warrington local plan gets final sign-off
The local plan core strategy to guide development in the borough over the next 15 years has been unanimously approval by the council.
The plan was first submitted to the Government for independent examination in September 2012. Following the appointment of an inspector, examination hearing sessions were held in June 2013 and March 2014.
Warrington Council agreed to make a number of changes to the plan in regards to additional clarification, policies and supporting text. The most significant change included a specific proposal to deliver around 1,100 new homes at Omega in West Warrington, and the deletion of a policy which identified land at Appleton, Grappenhall Heys, Peel Hall and Pewterspear Green as potential locations for future housing development.
These locations were to act as a contingency in the event that not enough homes were delivered on brownfield land within the older, central parts of the town.
The changes and amendments were made, agreed and approved by the inspector who returned the document which he declared as sound in May 2014.
The council gave final approval for the adoption of the plan last week.
Cllr Terry O'Neill, leader of Warrington Council said: "This is a major step forward for Warrington. The Local Plan will shape and protect the way in which Warrington develops and grows up until 2027 importantly it will also support our ambitious growth framework, Warrington Means Business."
so the council have removed land around Appleton that was ‘serviced’ at a cost to the taxpayer of C£20m for housing development from housing use and put in land that will need servicing. A really well thought through use of tax payers money [not]
By james
The council were recommended to remove the safeguarded land for housing in Appleton etc. by the planning inspector to make the Local Plan ‘sound’.
If WBC chose not to follow the recommendations of the inspector, the Local Plan would not have reached a stage where the future of Warrington is secured for the next 15-20 years and unallocated land would be open to speculative housing development. Far more contentious I tell you!
Plus, land at Omega would have to be serviced anyway regardless of whether it is for housing/office development.
By LJA