Residents feel let down over “farcical” planning process after plan approved for 228 homes at Grappenhall Heys

RESIDENTS say they feel let down by the planning process after controversial plans to build 228 new family homes on a greenfield site at Grappenhall Heys, were approved by Warrington Borough Council planners.

Meeting at Warrington Parr Hall, members of the town’s planning committee voted to approve the application by developers Urban Splash, who were selected by Homes England to deliver the final phase of the development, created in partnership with Sekisui House, Japan’s largest housebuilder and the world leader in zero-carbon homes.

Speaking on behalf of local residents, who engaged a planning consultant to take on the developers, local resident Alastair King said: “Those at the meeting witnessed a farcical process that poses serious questions about the so-called democratic planning system that exists in Warrington.
“We will take time to reflect and explore any further actions that are available to us in this matter.
He added: “I have absolutely no confidence in the planning process and feel very let down. The way the meeting was held felt very uncomfortable and very biased in favour of the applicants.
“Urban Splash even refused our request to submit further documentation for members of the planning committee to view which left us batting with one arm tied behind our backs.
“Urban Splash and the council have been discussing this application for over a year and we were just given a few minutes.
“Even when it came to 30 minutes of questions, they were all directed at the applicants who were just given more time to state their case. It was all very frustrating.”

After the meeting local Cllr Ryan Bate added: “I am disappointed that the committee hasn’t listened to the community’s concerns but I am even more frustrated about the way the process was conducted. We know we have a system which is developer-friendly, but when residents weren’t permitted to circulate some additional illustrations to support our objectors’ presentations and then our speaker order, previously agreed, was changed in the meeting itself, then you can understand why people lose confidence in the system. Then to add insult to injury, after nine minutes to make our thoughts known, the applicant had at least 30 minutes of additional time to present to the committee where they were allowed to freewheel with comments rather than respond to a focused Q&A. There was no fairness and residents feel let down. We are currently exploring our options for what to do next.”
A total of 152 objections were received from residents compared to one letter of support.
Local residents felt the design was not in keeping with the character of the Grappenhall Heys area, materials and colours were not in keeping; flat roofs were not in keeping and the proposal was too dense and the design was ugly.
Appleton Parish Council also raised concerns the design was not in keeping with the area, while Grappenhall Parish Council objected saying the development was not sustainable development and would create an additional enclave of development disconnected from local services.
The application is for 228 residential homes, new public realm and landscaping, access, parking, playspace and associated works on land south of Curzon Drive, Keepers Road and Boddington Road, east of Lichfield Avenue and west of Stansfield Drive, Grappenhall Heys, Warrington Planners are recommending approval saying the principle of development has been established by the outline consent.
Urban Splash said the application will lead to a quality development that safeguards amenity for adjacent occupiers whilst providing a high level of amenity for future residents.
They said the proposal was bespoke, high quality and presented a unique opportunity to diversity choice in Warrington’s Housing offer.
The proposal will not have an unacceptable impact upon local highway network and provides an acceptable level of car parking provision meeting the Council’s standards.
It also includes adequate protection of protected species and ecological mitigation and the development will not have an unacceptable impact upon flood risk.
Recommending approval planners recognised that the appearance of the properties was different from the existing (and under construction) development in the surrounding area but it is considered that this reflects a new phase of development that by virtue of the landscape-led approach and high-quality architecture would be a positive addition to the identity of the area.
They say the proposal also includes ecological mitigation to offset the loss of the existing agricultural land and is in excess of the required level of ecological mitigation to be provided on the site.
It is considered that the proposal would not have a harmful impact on the amenities of the adjacent properties and the future occupiers of the site and the application demonstrates that the impact on the highway network would be acceptable.