Spectre of Peel Hall housing looms again

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davidkeaneHOUSING development may yet take place at Peel Hall, Warrington – despite a planning inspector throwing out an appeal by the would-be developers last year.
Satnam Millennium – the developer behind the controversial proposal – has succeeded in challenging Warrington Borough Council housing policies in the High Court.
After a fierce court battle, the judge ruled in favour of the council on six of nine issues in the Local Plan Core Strategy – but quashed two relating to housing.
The council, which fought hard to defend the strategy, has expressed its disappointment.
The two issues quashed by the judge were:
*A housing target of 10,500 new homes (equating to 500 per year) between 2006 and 2027.
*References to 1,100 new homes at Omega.
The council will now have to ensure these elements of the plan are revised in line with the court ruling and reinstated as soon as possible.
Although this does not necessarily mean Warrington will have to plan for more housing, the likelihood is that the figure will have to be revised upwards.
Cllr David Keane (pictured), the council’s lead member for environment and public protection said: “Warrington Borough Council was one of the first to have its Local Plan agreed and ironically we have become a victim of being too efficient.
“The changes imposed by Government designed to make councils who are resistant to growth increase their housing targets have allowed this loophole to appear and the challenge to succeed albeit on only two of the nine issues challenged.
“Warrington achieves amongst the highest levels of new housing and employment development in the North West.
“Whilst this is a disappointment and a setback, our Local Plan still remains a robust document. All other policies with the plan remain intact and officers are now working hard to ensure the housing elements of the Plan are revised in line with the ruling and reinstated as soon as possible”.
The court ruling vindicates the stance taken by Warrington North MP Helen Jones who has warned for some time that Satnam had not given up the idea of building at Peel Hall.
Ms Jones said she was “very disappointed” in the outcome of the court hearing, although the council had won many of the points contested.
When the Government introduced changes to the law, Labour had warned that it would imperil the policy of using brownfield sites first.
“We can now expect another planning application from Satnam, but residents remain opposed to housing on this land and I will be supporting them.”
The public inquiry was fought over proposals for 150 houses, but Ms Jones believes the firm have longer term plans for up to 1,400 houses.


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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.

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