Borough helps drive economic recovery

BRITAIN is looking to successful places like Warrington to help drive national economic recovery, according to a report presented to the borough council.
Council chiefs have approved the document – a 10-year draft business growth and regeneration programme for the borough.
“Warrington Means Business” follows on from the 2009 Warrington Regeneration Framework which, it is claimed, has been successfully progressed.
But, Town Hall chiefs say, it is much more than a reworking of the original regeneration framework.
Andy Farrall (pictured), the council’s executive director for environment and regeneration, said: “It has been developed in a whole different context of national economic difficulties and a whole different regional sub-regional sub-national and national context.
“For example, the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, the Atlantic Gateway and a national push for economic growth now form the landscape for Warrington’s economic growth and the national agenda looks to successful places such as Warrington to help drive national economic recovery.”
Mr Farrall’s report says Warrington is one of the most economically successful places in the UK today.
Warrington Means Business aims to build on this and to drive further growth.
The programme is now to go out for consultation with key partners to get their reaction.
Warrington’s economic performance already outstrips most places in the UK.
It has the 6th highest earnings, the 13th highest business stock per capita, the 8th most popular office location and the 6th lowest loss of public sector jobs.
It has capacity for 120,000 new jobs over the next 20 years within its economic hinterland.
A “draft time line” for the programme shows work starting next year on the Omega development site and improvements to Walton Hall, as well as the opening of the New Garven Place clinic and completion of Orford Jubilee Park.
In 2014 redevelopment of the Bridge Street quarter and in the following year, redevelopment of Wilderspool Gateway will start, along with development of the Riverside/Howley Quay areas, Bridgefoot Link Road and Arpley Rail Link.
In 2016 the Birchwood Sustainable Transport network starts and in 2017 development of the Upper Mersey Forest Park will commence.
Work will also start on a waterfront park and promenades.
A major residential development in Warrington South is set for 2022.
Many other projects are also set to start over the next 10 years and overall strategic outcomes delivering £250,000 of priority growth enabling infrastructure, 60,000 new jobs, 12,000 new homes will be achieved.