Residents across North Warrington are being urged to submit formal objections to a proposed industrial-scale Biogas Plant at Highfield Farm, Winwick, before the fast-approaching deadline of Friday 22 August.
The application (Ref: 2025/00859/FULM) has united all five North Warrington borough councillors and the Parish Councils of Winwick, Croft, and Culcheth & Glazebury in fierce opposition who warn the development will:
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- Irreparably damage an ancient scheduled monument
- Flood rural roads with HGV traffic – hundreds of extra lorry movements every week.
- Bring persistent odours that will carry into neighbouring villages.
- Impact the protected green belt
Speaking to Warrington Worldwide Cllr Stuart Mann (Burtonwood & Winwick) said: “If approved this plant will change the character of our villages forever, I feel strongly that the proposal is fundamentally at odds with national and local planning policy. It would cause lasting harm to the openness of the Green Belt, heritage settings, landscape character, and local amenity, while posing an unacceptable pollution risk. It would add heavy traffic to rural roads transporting residential waste that WOULD NOT EVEN BE FROM WARRINGTON. It provides no local benefit and completely fails to demonstrate any special circumstances to justify development on this protected site.
To me there is no reason this application should be approved.
Should it be built, there’s no going back.”
Residents must submit objections via Warrington Borough Council’s planning portal here: Warrington | Warrington Borough Council Online | Application | 214460
Winwick Parish Council has published a step-by-step objection guide at: Severn Trent Green Energy Anaerobic Digestion Plant (Biogas) – Winwick Parish Council
Cllr Mann finished by saying: ‘Every single objection counts – but only if it’s submitted before Friday 22 August. I am calling on everyone in the area to act now to protect the countryside, heritage, and quality of life for generations to come.’
