Peel Hall: three pledge to carry on the fight

THREE Warrington councillors have pledged to carry on fighting to block controversial housing proposals at Peel Hall, despite the plans being thrown back in the melting pot by a High Court ruling.
Councillors John Kerr Brown (pictured), Brian Maher and Steve Roberts say they will vigorously oppose any such development.
Satnam Millennium – the developer behind the controversial proposal for 150 homes – 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 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.
But the ruling throws into doubt the result of the lengthy public inquiry which Satnam lost last year and it is almost certain the company will now again seek planning consent for housing at Peel Hall.
In a statement, the three councillors say: “As ward councillors for Poplars and Hulme, we are bitterly disappointed that some elements of Warrington Borough Council’s Core Strategy have been quashed by the High Court.
“The decision to quash the housing target element of 10,500 new homes to be built between 2006 and 2027 may well have a significant impact upon Peel Hall.
“The Conservative-Liberal Democrat government changed the housing legislation last year and this now allows developers to challenge local authorities on the housing needs element of the Core Strategy.
“We will vigorously oppose such development at Peel Hall and will continue working with senior council planning officers to review and implement our housing strategy.”
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.
But the council believes its Local Plan remains a robust document and can be brought into line with the court ruling and reinstated.
Cllr Kerr Brown added: “It is by no means certain that Satnam will now be able to win planning consent for houses at Peel Hall and we will be working to ensure they do not.”
The original public inquiry was fought over proposals for 150 houses, but Warrington North MP Helen Jones believes the firm have longer term plans for up to 1,400 houses on the site.