Peel Hall still earmarked for homes – MP

DESPITE numerous reassurances to the contrary, the Peel Hall area of Warrington is still earmarked for development, according to MP Helen Jones.
She is calling on the borough council to extend the consultation period on their planning framework document, which is due to run out on January 20.
The 173-page document, “Warrington Development Framework”, is a complex and lengthy documents with serious implications for the borough, according to the Warrington North MP (pictured).
She said: “Unfortunately, few people are even aware of the existence of the document. A number of people who have seen the draft plans have complained to me that the consultation period is too limited.
“The fact that the Christmas and New Year holidays fell within the consultation effectively reduces the time people have to absorb and respond to the plans. “The council’s second ‘open day’ for the public to learn about the plans is only a couple of days before the consultation ends thus allowing only a very short time span in which people could put together their comments.
“In the light of this, I have written to the council asking them to extend the consultation.
“I am also very concerned about the references made to Peel Hall in this draft plan. I have repeatedly been assured that the council have no intention of allowing a development on this site and that only one meeting to discuss this matter took place before May 2010.
“However, following a Freedom of Information request I discovered that half a dozen meetings, dating back to early 2010, have taken place with developers to discuss a possible development, including one with the borough solicitor. The Highways Department and the Homes and Communities Agency have also been involved.
“It emerges that the proposal is to build 1,400 houses, employment units and sports facilities which would include floodlighting, on the site.
” Further reassurances were forthcoming from the council following this disclosure. However, the draft framework clearly states that Peel Hall is an area that the council considers appropriate for a housing development and could be used as such. The reassurances I have been given seem rather hollow.
” I am not against building new homes for Warrington people, who are finding it more and more difficult to get onto the housing ladder. However, we have more than enough housing land available without touching Peel Hall.”
The council has stated that it has been Town Hall policy since 2006 that the Peel Hall site is not currently suitable for development. But the long term future of the site has to be reviewed and determined as part of the council’s strategic land use planning process.