Residents to be consulted over Omega’s future

A MAJOR public consultation exercise starts tomorrow (Thursday) into the next stage of development for the Omega South site at Warrington.
Omega Warrington Ltd (OWL) is urging local people to get involved  in an online consultation which goes live on Friday or attend one of a number of public exhibitions, the first of which is tomorrow at Great Sankey High School from 4pm-8pm.
The next stage of the development includes new homes, shops, leisure and community uses.
OWL is a joint venture between Miller Developments and KUC Developments Ltd, in partnership with the Homes and Communities Agency and supported by Warrington Borough Council and the Cheshire Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership
Proposals to be presented for consultation will include 1,100 new homes along with local shops, restaurants and cafes, public house/ bar, a care home and a hotel, supported by extensive landscaping and wildlife habitat preservation.
Extensive transport studies are also being undertaken to inform local and wider improvements. Following public consultation, plans will be developed into an outline planning application to be submitted in late summer.
OWL is encouraging local people to get involved in the online consultation at www.omegaopportunity.com/community/consultation/ which runs until the end of June or to attend one of the following community events:
After tomorrows exhibition at Great Sankey High School, the event moves on to Kingswood Community Hall, Westbrook on Friday, from 12 noon to 4pm,
And St Michael’s Parish Hall, Burtonwood on Monday, June 1 from 2.30pm to 6.30pm.
Deadline for consultation feedback will be June 30.
Andrew Sutherland, joint managing directorMD of Miller Developments, said: “With business thriving on other parts of Omega, these next stage proposals provide a real opportunity to create a complementary, vibrant and sustainable community.
“As a team, we have a lot of technical surveys and studies to carry out before we finalise plans but equally as important, we want to hear ideas from our local community. A new primary school on Omega was granted planning consent on May 14 but we want everyone to get involved in the consultation and talk to us about what else they think the local area needs that this new development could provide.
“We are striving to create the best possible environment for the benefit of both new and existing residents, and we need the passion and local knowledge of the community to achieve this.”
Leader of Warrington Borough Council Terry O’Neill,said: “As with all parts of the UK, Warrington needs new homes for its growing population; as a borough, we have a target to build 5,425 new homes between 2012 and 2027.
“Omega South is an ideal location to create a sustainable development with business premises and jobs alongside new homes, large open spaces, play areas, a new school and vital community facilities and services.”
If the outline planning application is approved by the borough council  OWL will then market residential plots to high quality housebuilders.
The selected housebuilder partners will then develop detailed designs for each plot which will each, following further rounds of public consultation, be submitted as detailed planning applications.
It is anticipated that the residential and mixed-use part of Omega will be delivered in phases over 10 years, depending on market demand.