Warrington looks to commit LRF cash
With £8m from the Local Regeneration Fund needing to be spent before 2028, authority is being sought to commission AECOM to make three active travel projects planning-ready.
Warrington Council’s cabinet meets on 27 July to consider the matter, along with issues including bus franchising and the local authority seeking to exit its equity position in challenger bank Redwood.
A report for members sets out progress towards delivery of a trio of LRF (formerly Levelling Up Fund) active travel schemes in Burtonwood, Culcheth and on the A49 linking to Winwick.
Warrington has been awarded £9.4m LRF grant funding, around £8.1m of which is available alongside additional contributions, enabling delivery of what is estimated as a total cost of £10.4m.
Delegated approval is sought to award contracts to multidisciplinary consultancy AECOM to develop detailed designs, amass further technical information and progress and finalise land negotiations.
Cabinet approval is required as the tenders each exceed £250,000, the three coming in at between £314,000 and £376,000 each.
Burtonwood (overall estimated project cost at this point £1.9m): upgrades to community buildings including Burtonwood Community Centre and Gorsey Lane Pavilion, and delivery of an active travel route connecting between Clay Lane and Green Jones Brow
Winwick (£6.3m): active route alongside the A49 connecting between Rectory Lane and the Cromwell Avenue roundabout
Culcheth (£2.2m): active travel route from New Hall Lane linking into wider improvements over Junction 11 of the M62 and towards Birchwood.
The LRF package was confirmed in November 2024, with preliminary designs, surveys and landowner engagement then taking place.
LRF cash must be spent by March 2028 and programmes developed for delivery in the 2027-28 financial year. Thus, next steps are set out by officers:
- Develop detailed designs and conduct early contractor engagement to finesse cost estimates and delivery programmes
- Conduct further ecology and environmental surveys
- Develop and submit planning applications for the Burtonwood and Culcheth schemes
- Confirm Public Rights of Way amendments and land agreements to secure access rights along the Burtonwood and Culcheth routes
- Procure and award contracts for construction of the schemes
- Construct the schemes in 2027/28.
Permission is sought for the executive director of place to commission AECOM to take the projects forward.
Each of the schemes broadly look to offer alternatives to busy A roads for active travellers. For the Burtonwood scheme, the idea is to offer a safer route than the Chapel Lane or Farmers Lane/Tan Hosue Lane routes, while the Culcheth project aims to improve access to jobs at Birchwood.
What about Woolston hub
No money for where it is really needed
By Barbara Boden
Approve. What’s the relevance of the Warrington North constituency boundary in the drawing?
By Wolfie
As anybody though of spending some money on Warrington hospital, we’re it is in urgent need
By Eddie Cooper
Warrington need a Swimming facility for all to replace the closures of Warrington Baths, the demise of Woolston Hub, the closure of Fordton and the running down of the Orford Hub. There is no accessible swimming facility for all in Warrington.
By Anonymous
Active travel = more cycle lanes to gridlock more of the town that is already at a standstill at peak times.
By Anonymous
One for Andy Burnham methinks! Ex warrington – who apreciates the real needs of Warrington – disgraceful and another complete waste of money.
By Anonymous
What about cycle paths from Culcheth to Birchwood and Newton le Willows. It would allow people to cycle to railway stations.
By Anonymous