Warrington approves 1.5m sq ft Fiddler’s Ferry regeneration
Peel NRE’s first phase plans for the former power station site have been given the go-ahead by the local authority.
Phase one is expected to deliver around 1.5m sq ft of employment floorspace across four industrial and distribution sheds, and the extension will support 845 jobs.
The 99-acre plot represents a slice of the earmarked 800-acre site allocated under Warrington’s local plan for a long-term investment into a mixed-use development.
Sustainable features, highlighted by the target of a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating, reliable renewable energy generation, and the installation of solar panels and air source heat pumps.
External landscaping, amenity provision, and improvements to the site’s existing access off Widnes Road to facilitate active travel were also approved.
Peel will begin site preparation in the next few weeks and address the Flue Gas De-Sulphurisation plant, which must be sensitively removed before any regeneration can take place.
Keiran Tames, development director, Peel NRE, said: “We’re delighted that Warrington Borough Council has approved this first phase of development at Fiddler’s Ferry.
“This marks a significant milestone in the transformation of this strategic brownfield site and will enable us to continue our investment in the site and Warrington.”
Turley was the planning consultant for the application, and also handled sustainability and ESG matters.
Phase one’s approval represents a step forward in the area’s masterplan, which aims to deliver around 250 acres of employment space, 860 houses over the remaining 550 acres, and parks and recreational areas.
Get them to look after the many Bridges in Warrington before signing anything else.
By Anonymous
Why not leave it as a bit of history and leave it as open space for everyone to enjoy
By Lynsteph
It would be interesting to understand what the current total capacity of distribution units there is in Warrington and what % is empty as at May 2025 before building more. IIRC the development of the old Buttonwood airfield promised the delivery of high tech industries, in reality it’s a series of distribution facilities offering few high value roles and those jobs that have been created will be at risk of automation in the near future.
To put it another way how many warehouses does one town need?
By Photosbyianb
Where are these 860 families going to put there kids in schools & dentist as it’s already so hard now!!
By Anonymous
What about a school? Or doctors/dentist? Something we need not just houses
By Anonymous
So we have the same capacity hospital and increase the population further on the very site a new hospital could have been built to serve the very large and ever growing population we can’t look after already. Great idea?
By Anonymous
Ooh more houses !!!
I’ve lived in Great Sankey for over 50 years. We still have the same 3 high schools that are now catering for the chapel ford area, Gemini area and beyond. Oh did I forget to mention Warrington hospital? Still standing on the same footprint but now catering for the whole of the greatly expanded area!
Never mind, just think of all that lovely council tax 860 homes will generate.
One last thing,are any road networks going to be improved to deal with the increase in traffic?
By Anonymous
At least 100 local apprenticeships within a 20mile radius must be demanded and completed by the completion of the project. Planning,Construction,Mechanical and Electrical. Local councils have a moral duty to serve their people.
By JASON DAVIES-PATRICK
Warrington need to sort out the flooding problems and the lack of dredging and by the council who are totally incompetent at resolving the issue. Two million pounds and they are going to spend that thinking about it. Tens of millions in debt. Government specialists moving in to sort out debts and all they can do is sell off fiddlers ferry
By John the joiner
A large amount of the site acreage was used to drain and collect clean water from the power station plant. There are several small lakes which the local wild life live on. Effectively it is green belt. It will be destroyed to build the planned industrial complex and housing site. What a waste of natures beauty, the human race will destroy itself eventually but not before it does away with nature.
By Anonymous
What about schools/doctors which are already overran? What about Warrington road, not thinking about how much this will affect residents in penketh especially with all the traffic and trucks that will be using an already increasingly busy road?! I have emailed the council about this and I believe several local residents have as we were told this was nothing to do with peel, had no response. Shock! So much for the nature reserve they were initially talking about putting there 🙄 let’s leave no green space left 👍🏻🙃
By Anonymous
I hope plans will be put in place for access and degress for Penketh Warrington road, as it has always had its fair share of traffic!
By Anonymous