Concern over plan for more than 80 family homes on business park site

CONCERNS have been raised over plans to build more than 80 family homes on the Warrington Business Park site off the busy A50 Long Lane.

Local Cllr Dave Appleton has expressed concerns over the lack of consultation over the proposals for the site, which is situated between the A50 Long Lane and Orford Park, and is accessed off Longfield Gardens. The site mainly comprises office block accommodation, significant amounts of which are currently vacant.

Cllr. Appleton said: “I have just been made aware of a public consultation exercise and future planning application in relation to proposals for residential development at the above site.
“I have contacted the company over local residents’ concerns about not receiving communication, and since I reported this on Facebook, I have been contacted by several residents, and I am listening to their concerns. I am still awaiting to hear back from the company.”
The buildings that make up the business park are a former school, which was constructed in the 1960s, and as such were not purpose-built for the current use as office accommodation. Much of the site is hardstanding which is currently used as car parking.
The owners of the site say that, given the age of the buildings and current levels of vacancy, it is not viable to continue operating as a business park in its current condition. There are other office premises elsewhere in Warrington that better serve the needs of operators compared with this site and as such, the landowner has discounted redeveloping the site to provide new employment accommodation. It is therefore proposed to redevelop the site to deliver family homes as a suitable alternative use for this site. There is also a private day care nursery on site but they are in the process of relocating to alternative premises. Other tenants are on short-term leases and are aware of the proposed intentions to redevelop the site.

Proposals for the site can be summarised as:

• Demolition of on-site buildings and site wide remediation;

• Delivery of 81 new family homes, across a mix of house types;

• Provision of a mix of dwelling sizes, from 1 to 4 bedroom properties;

• All homes to be delivered as affordable housing, managed by a Registered Provider of affordable housing;

• A mix of affordable tenures to be provided, exact tenure split to be confirmed;

• Vehicular access to the properties will be taken off Longfield Gardens, utilising the existing access arrangement that serves the business park; and

• A new pedestrian / cycle link into Orford Park is proposed, improving access and connectivity into the park.

The applicants state a planning application is being prepared for the proposals and this will be submitted to the Local Planning Authority at Warrington Council in due course. While they have sought feedback from local residents, people living near the site say they have not received any information.
Comments on the proposals in writing to: Stonebond Properties (Manchester) Ltd, Egerton House, Towers Business Park, Didsbury, M20 2DX or email: manchester@stonebondltd.com
Cllr. Appleton says he is happy to be included in correspondence at cllrdave.appleton@warrington.gov.uk
Comments need to be submitted by 8th June 2026.
Warrington Borough Council will also undertake their own public consultation once the application is submitted, so residents will also have the opportunity to provide comments directly to the Council as part of the planning process.