A STRATEGY for safeguarding the future of one of Warrington’s most important employment areas is to be put to Town Hall policy chiefs – with a warning that it could soon be under threat.
The report by Steve Park (pictured), managing director of Warrington and Co, will be presented to members of the borough council’s supporting the local economy 
policy committee next week.
It focusses on Warrington East – which incorporates Birchwood, Risley, Woolston Grange and residential areas including Woolston and Culcheth.
Although it has a thriving economy, it largely dates from the 1970s and suffers from a number of problems including ageing industrial and office buildings, increasing traffic congestion and a lack of parking provision.
The physical environment of the Woolston Grange industrial park is “tired” and vacant office space requires refurbishment if it is to compete with other business locations across the North West.
New and existing locations such as Deeside, Manchester’s Airport City and Sci-Tech Daresbury could threatened Warrington East’s position, says Mr Park.
Currently, Warrington East remains the most important concentration of private sector employment in Cheshire and Warrington and Birchwood is one of the most successful business parks in the North West. But with much of the built space and infrastructure nearing the end of its economic life and no significant new areas of employment land available in the area, it could lose out to locations such as Sci-Tech Daresbury, Daresbury Park and Airport City..
“The position of Warrington East in general and Birchwood in particular may be considered under threat of decline in the medium term,” says Mr Park.
He recommends the following objectives:
*That Warrington East increases private sector employment from 27,600 (2012 level) to 31,000 within three years and then allows 20 per cent growth over the remainder of the decade to 2023.
*That Warrington East increases the number of engineering related businesses year-on-year.
*That Warrington East reduces the office vacancy rates over the next five years to levels representing 1-2 years supply.
Warning that town's most important employment area could soon be under threat
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
