WARRINGTON Borough Council has unveiled ambitious new details for a massive 300-acre masterplan surrounding the town’s Bank Quay station.
The Bank Quay Gateway proposals, which could deliver up to 4,500 new homes and 2 million square feet of commercial space, aim to capitalise on the town’s pivotal role in the planned £45 billion Liverpool-Manchester railway line.
Speaking ahead of the UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) in Leeds, Steve Hunter, director of place at Warrington Borough Council, formally unveiled the masterplan to delegates.
The blueprint, drawn up by master planners WSP and Aecom, targets underutilised brownfield and former industrial land surrounding the Bank Quay railway station. The commercial element of the scheme is designed to accommodate approximately 10,000 workers, bringing much-needed modern office accommodation to a local market that has not seen speculative workspace development in 15 years.
The masterplan is the culmination of 14 months of government-funded development by the Warrington Bank Quay Advisory Board – a coalition comprising the Council, the Department for Transport (DfT), the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), and Homes England.
Cllr Hans Mundry, Leader of Warrington Borough Council, said: “The Bank Quay masterplan represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform a vast area of underused brownfield land into a vibrant, sustainable new quarter for Warrington. This is far more than just a transport upgrade, it is a catalyst for major economic and social regeneration that will shape our town for decades to come.
“Our central position on the planned Liverpool-Manchester line makes Warrington the ideal engine room for regional growth. By utilising this industrial land right next to our rail hub, we can deliver the high-quality homes and modern workspaces we need, transforming the area and providing massive long-term benefits for people across our borough and wider region.
“We’ve worked tirelessly alongside the Elected Mayors and leaders from across the Liverpool to Manchester route to ensure Warrington’s voice was heard and to secure our vision for a hub station at Bank Quay. It will be vital for Warrington’s long-term growth and attractiveness as a place to live, work and invest.
“Now, we’re looking forward to continuing our close partnership with the government and our neighbouring Cheshire authorities as we work towards turning this vision into a reality.”
While recognised as one of Warrington’s most critical future regeneration projects, the full realisation of the Bank Quay scheme relies on the delivery of the government’s Northern Powerhouse Rail link, which positions Warrington as a central hub between Liverpool and Manchester.
Crucially, the influx of high-density urban housing at Bank Quay would help ease development pressure on local green spaces. Working under a devolved combined authority, Warrington Borough Council, Cheshire East Council, and Cheshire West and Chester Council will have the strategic flexibility to distribute housing targets across the sub-region, protecting the Green Belt.
