Warrington adopts local plan, appoints Leader
Cllr Hans Mundry took the top role at the council on Monday – a meeting that also saw the local authority accept its spatial development framework, a document that has been seven years in the making.
The Warrington Local Plan
With the adoption of the Warrington Local Plan on Monday, Warrington Council has delivered a framework for enabling the development of a minimum of 14,688 new homes in the borough – as well as allocating 415 acres for employment land. The local plan will be valid through 2039.
The overwhelming majority of the homes planned would be constructed in an urban area. The remaining 4,400 would be built on 960 acres of Green Belt, which will now be released for that status.
The amount of Green Belt released was 34% less than had been proposed last year, when the council had sought to release 1,430 acres.
Most of the employment land in the local plan is allocated for the brownfield Fiddlers Ferry site. Peel NRE purchased the 820-acre site in July 2022 and has lodged plans to build 1.4m sq ft of industrial space on part of the plot. This is just the first phase of a wider masterplan, which will include 4m sq ft of logistics space as well as homes, GP surgery, and primary school. Four of cooling towers from the former Fiddlers Ferry power station were demolished by P.P. O’Connor on Sunday to make way for this scheme.
The adoption of the local plan was a significant step for the council, with cabinet member for environment, housing, and public protection, Cllr Hitesh Patel, stating: “Our local plan will play a hugely important role in shaping Warrington’s future. It aims to benefit everyone who lives and works here, driving our growth, guiding development, meeting our housing needs, and supporting jobs – all while protecting the Green Belt as much as possible.
“This plan has been developed and shaped through extensive consultation and engagement with independent planning inspectors and crucially, the borough’s residents and businesses,” Patel continued. “By working together, I believe we have delivered a plan which is the right fit for Warrington’s future. I’m delighted that the plan has now been approved and can be formally adopted.”
A new Leader
Cllr Mundry was appointed as Warrington Council Leader on Monday, taking over the role from Cllr Russ Bowden.
Bowden, who had been a councillor for 13 years, announced in October that he would not be seeking re-election in May. He cited personal challenges and his intent to take legal action regarding accusations that he had engaged in electoral malpractice. Bowden was cleared and acquitted of all charges after a trial in May.
Mundry has been a councillor in Warrington since 1995 and currently represents Latchford East.
Mundry has been the cabinet member for transport, highways, and public realm since 2015. He helped deliver the Warrington West train station and the Centre Park link bridge.
“I have strong ambitions for Warrington,” Mundry said. “I want us to build on our strengths as a well-connected, business-friendly economic leader, to drive ahead with our net zero ambitions and to work with partners to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents, particularly the most vulnerable.
“Crucial to this will be our ongoing work to support vibrant, safe and inclusive communities where every resident feels heard and valued and is able to take an active part in – and benefit from – Warrington’s growth.”
With Mundry’s appointment to Leader, Cllr Janet Henshaw was named deputy leader.
New homes “4,400 would be built on 960 acres of Green Belt”
Really? – Well that’s a vote winner from a Labour council……..
By Mark My Words
Are Warrington council following Runcorns lead by building on every bit of land till nothing is left? The whole of the fiddlers ferry site should be housing and leave what’s left of the green spaces alone.
By Warren
Why have Warrington Council rewarded Peel with an incredibly lucrative allocation on Fiddlers Ferry, which if many other Peel sites are anything to go by will not get started, letalone built out, for decades, when Peel have continually held them to ransom over the ship canal crossings? I don’t doubt Fiddlers Ferry is an eminently suitable bit of PDL, but come on, have some joined up thinking!
By Lee