Plans submitted to redevelop university’s former Padgate Campus

PLANS have been submitted detailing proposals to redevelop the University of Chester’s former Padgate Campus in Warrington into a thriving residential community, including more than 50 affordable homes.

Barratt and David Wilson Homes North West has submitted the application to redevelop the site off Crab Lane saying it will provide much-needed high-quality housing for Padgate. The proposed development would also support the future of sports provision in Warrington in delivering new and upgraded sports facilities across the borough.

Whilst delivering a range of new homes to meet local demand, the development – poised to be named Kings Guard – would be complemented by associated parking, improved pedestrian and cycle links, and extensive landscape planting. The plans include over 2.6 hectares of public open space for the wider community to enjoy, whilst achieving biodiversity net gain.
The regeneration of the site will also preserve the legacy of the University and its alumni at Padgate, with reinvestment into Warrington and steps taken to retain the memorial trees on the campus.

Andrew Taylor

Andrew Taylor, Planning Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes North West, said: “We are pleased to submit our plans for the regeneration of the University of Chester’s former Padgate Campus. This will be an exciting development, and one which will bring a range of benefits to the wider community in Warrington.
“Having consulted with the local community already, we believe this regeneration scheme will transform the land into a flourishing new neighbourhood whilst preserving the site’s history and investing in Warrington’s sports facilities.”
Among the properties proposed at the development are 52 affordable homes. The new community would comprise a mix of two, three and four bedroom properties of various styles.
The former Padgate Campus is privately owned by the University of Chester and contains a range of vacant buildings, sports facilities, and multiple areas of surface car parking as well as open space. The site is no longer in educational use and is surplus to the University’s requirements.
Lucy Fitzhugh, Executive Director of Estates and Commercial Operations at the University of Chester, said: “Disposing of the campus forms part of the University’s wider estate strategy which resulted in its relocation to new sites in the centre of Warrington at Time Square and Barbauld Street in 2022.
“The University of Chester has a proud history of working with and for the local community in Warrington, and the wider Cheshire region. It values the importance of providing higher education in Warrington and the sale of Padgate is crucial to sustain the future higher education strategy in the town.”
Warrington Wolves Rugby League Club currently uses part of the site as a training facility and is relocating to Victoria Park at the end of 2025.

A typical Barratt Homes street scene

To mitigate for the loss of the on-site sports facilities, an extensive strategy has been proposed by Barratt and David Wilson Homes and the University of Chester. This includes resurfacing two existing poor-quality hockey-based artificial grass pitches (AGPs) at Lymm High School and Priestley College, and new full-sized 3G AGPs at Victoria Park and Woolston Playing Fields.
There’s also the provision of new six-room community changing facilities and the resurfacing of the eight-lane synthetic athletics track at Victoria Park.
More details about the development will be released should the planning application be successful.