WARRINGTON is not making adequate provision for housing over the next 15 years, according to a number of objectors to the borough council Local Plan Core Strategy.
While Town Hall planners are suggesting 10,500 new homes, some objectors are challenging this figure and putting forward a figure of about 17,000.
The council’s strategy – which will eventually replace the Unitary Development Plan – seeks to concentrate housing growth mainly within the inner areas, but the objectors say there 
is to need to recognise Lymm and Culcheth as key areas functioning as separate housing markets.
They suggest land south of Rushgreen Road, Lymm and north east of Culcheth for additional housing – plus new business parks west of Cherry Lane, Lymm and on land between the Taylor Business Park and Warrington Road, Culcheth.
More housing land at Burtonwood at Ashton’s Farm, Burtonwood and Bell Lane, Thelwall is also suggested.
Those arguing for higher levels of housing growth are also suggesting additional Green Belt land adjoining Lymm and Culcheth should be released for more development.
Cllr David Keane (pictured), the council’s executive member for environment and public protection, says at this stage in the preparation of the core strategy, the council do not prepare responses to objectors’ suggestions.
The plan will, instead, be examined by an inspector appointed by the government who may recommend changes for the council to consider.
Some 152 representations have been made to the council’s strategy. Of these 90 per cent considered to be legally prepared while 10 per cent did not.
Forty two per cent considered the plan to be sound, 30 per cent thought it would be sound with minor changes while 25 per cent thought it unsound. Three per cent expressed no opinion on “soundness”.
Support for the plan has generally come from parish councils, environment organisations and agencies.
Overall, they welcome the strategy’s continued protection of the borough’s Green Belt, the countryside and constituent settlements.
If the Local Plan Core Strategy is not adopted, the council’s ability to influence how much new development is planned for and where it should be would be weakened.
Town needs more homes
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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.
6 Comments
“…90 per cent (of objections) considered to be legally prepared while 10 per cent did not.”
“Town needs more homes”, say developers.
No surprise there then.
I thought we lived in a democracy! The Council don’t need to respond to objectors suggestions but an inspector appointed by the Government who may suggest changes. You’re having as laugh! Once again we have a Council that simply ignores what its residents have to say. That’s what WBC calls consultation.
In fact, Warringtonian, the article makes it clear that “at this stage” the council does not respond to the objectors. But after the inspector has considered the representations received, the council can then consider any recommended changes and respond.
But isn’t the problem with housebuilding, which I understand is desperately needed in the UK, that each time an application goes in, local councillors and residents object to it, often on very irrelevant and dishonest grounds. Economically housebuilding makes sense, it creates many jobs and increasing the supply makes houses more affordable. The average houseprice should be about 3 times the average wage, it is currently far, far greater than that.
Before pressing ahead with Local Plan Core Strategy, more urgent action is needed in sorting out an obviously unfit for purpose planning department. Some have said it needs a complete clearout. Whatever they do if they let current p lot ters loose on the LPCS it will be a backward step for apparently forward looking borough.
I think the core issue should to be sorting out a decent road infrastructure including some form of ring road before we start building MORE houses… the roads cannot cope with what we have now and whenever there is an issue on the M6, the town gets gridlocked as there is no alternative to the Thelwall Viaduct….. Build houses yes, but make sure there is a lessened effect on traffic first before you try and add to it; because regardless of what the green and cycling lobies may spout, people will have cars and more cars on the same roads is a recipe for disaster!