Warrington to exit bus depot deal

The council wants to terminate a two-year option agreement on the Wilderspool Causeway site held by Wire Regeneration, its joint venture with Langtree.

The option agreement runs until February 2027, but cash-strapped Warrington, which is winding up development activities in light of a government best value inspection, is looking to get on the front foot, which could put the site into play for other contenders.

Warrington’s cabinet will discuss the item at its meeting on 8 June. If members rubber-stamp the serving of notice to terminate the option agreement, it would leave the council in sole charge of the site.

As set out in the option appraisal part of the report, “by terminating the option, it does not remove the possibility of the former bus depot land being developed – either for a trade park or for an alternative use.

“The Council has the option to sell the site on the open market and for development to come forward subject to planning consent.”

The site was transferred to the council by municipal transport organisation Warrington’s Own Buses once depot operations moved to Dallam Lane – close to the Halliwell Jones Stadium – in a £10m project in April 2023.

Moving the bus depot had been intended to put the Wilderspool Causeway depot site front-and-centre of the 1,300-home Southern Gateway masterplan.

Also included in the Southern Gateway area are projects at the former Wilderspool rugby ground, the St James office complex – rebranded as The Causeway in 2025 – and Wharf Industrial Estate.

Now in train to be wound up, Wire Regeneration has four live streams of work. Along with the Causeway offices/digital hub, there is residential at the rugby ground – billed as Bevan Mews, a sale is lined up conditional on reserved matters consent this summer. Outline permission is in place for 160 homes at the 5.5-acre site.

The other two projects are a pair of disposals at Knutsford Road and Chester Road; and exploring the development of an income-generating leisure scheme.

The cabinet report said: “These activities indicate an appropriate and natural conclusion to Wire once Bevan Mews is sold and St James’ is completed.”

A Langtree spokesperson said: “We continue to work with the council to deliver Wire Regeneration’s programme and will discuss with it any updated priorities once its cabinet has addressed this report.”

In May last year, Warrington’s best value inspection recommended that the council exit commercial investments and reduce its debt. the council having been active in property investment over a number of years, notably in the acquisition of Birchwood Park in 2017.

Next week’s Warrington cabinet meeting will also be asked to sign off the transfer of Local Regeneration Fund cash to the Gorsey Lane Pavilion redevelopment to Burtonwood & Westbrook Parish Council.

Originally proposed as a new-build facility in the 2021/22 Levelling Up Fund bid, escalating costs have seen plans change, so that a refurbishment will now be taken forward, led by the parish council, which is the site owner and match-funder. The project as a whole comes in just short of £500,000.