# New Warrington Local Plan consultation to shape borough’s future growth
RESIDENTS are being invited to have their say on Warrington’s future development strategy as the borough prepares a new Local Plan, amid growing debate over housing targets and potential Green Belt development.
Warrington Borough Council’s Cabinet has approved the next stage in the preparation of an updated Local Plan, paving the way for a public consultation running from November 17, 2026, to January 11, 2027.
The consultation will give residents, businesses and other stakeholders an early opportunity to influence how Warrington grows and develops over the coming years.
Although the borough’s current Local Plan was only adopted in 2023, the council says changes to national planning policy and significantly higher housing targets imposed by Government mean it is required to undertake an update.
The new Local Plan will establish the framework for future housing, employment, business development and infrastructure across the borough, including the provision of schools, healthcare facilities, shops and transport improvements.
However, the process is likely to attract considerable public interest, particularly given the potential implications for Warrington’s Green Belt and surrounding countryside.
The council has previously received 119 sites through its Call for Sites exercise, which ran between April and June this year. These include land being promoted for potential housing and employment development.
The exercise does not mean those sites will necessarily be included in the final plan, but the question of where future development should take place is likely to become one of the most contentious issues as the Local Plan progresses.
Warrington has substantial Green Belt land surrounding its existing urban areas, and any proposals involving its release for development are likely to face scrutiny from residents and local campaigners concerned about the loss of countryside, pressure on roads and public services, and the impact on existing communities.
The council says having an up-to-date Local Plan is important to ensure development is properly planned and that the borough can secure the infrastructure, services and environmental improvements needed to support future growth.
Cllr John Kerr-Brown, Cabinet Member for Environment, Housing and Public Protection, said: “Although Warrington’s current Local Plan was only adopted in 2023, changes to national planning policy and higher housing targets set by Government mean we are required to update the plan so we can effectively manage future growth.
“While we are required to undertake this review, it also gives us an important opportunity to think about the kind of borough we want Warrington to be in the years ahead.
“An up-to-date Local Plan helps us plan positively for the homes, jobs, infrastructure and environmental improvements our communities need, rather than having development imposed on us.”
He added that the council wanted Warrington to remain an attractive place to live, work and invest, while providing enough high-quality and affordable homes for current and future generations.
The plan would also need to take account of an ageing population, support residents with disabilities to live independently and ensure communities have access to the facilities and services they need.
What will the consultation cover?
Importantly, the November consultation will not include proposals for specific development sites.
Instead, people will be asked for their views on:
– The draft vision for Warrington’s future.
– Proposed aims and objectives for the new Local Plan.
– The overall strategy for future growth and development across the borough.
– The proposed approach to planning policies.
– The evidence being used to prepare the Local Plan.
The council says no decisions on individual development site allocations are being made at this stage.
A further, more detailed consultation covering the draft Local Plan, including the approach to individual development sites, is scheduled for Autumn 2027.
Infrastructure requirements, environmental considerations and the needs of local communities will all form part of the work leading up to that stage.
Where can residents have their say?
The consultation will be available online and in writing, alongside a programme of public engagement events across the borough.
The proposed drop-in events are:
– Birchwood Community Hub (Leisure Centre):Tuesday, November 24, 2pm-8pm.
– Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub:Thursday, November 26, 2pm-8pm.
– Warrington Central Library: Saturday, November 28, 10am-2pm.
– St Thomas’s Church Hall, Stockton Heath: Monday, November 30, 2pm-8pm.
– Orford Jubilee Hub: Wednesday, December 2, 2pm-8pm.
Full consultation details and supporting documents are due to be published ahead of the November 17 launch.
Cllr Kerr-Brown urged residents, businesses and other stakeholders to get involved, saying the consultation was an opportunity to influence the updated plan from an early stage.
The next 12 months will be important in determining the direction of Warrington’s future development, with the debate over housing needs, Green Belt protection and the infrastructure required to support growth likely to feature prominently.
