South Warrington has been earmarked for around 4,200 homes
Warrington Borough Council has expressed confidence that the town’s transport network will be able to handle the increased demand from thousands of new homes. Land in south Warrington, which was removed from the green belt, is set to house around 4,200 homes.
The site has been allocated for development in the council’s Local Plan, with Homes England planning a proposed extension to southeast Warrington, focusing on sustainability. The new housing and infrastructure will affect areas around Grappenhall, Grappenhall Heys, Appleton and Stretton.
The Local Plan, adopted in December 2023, aims to deliver at least 14,688 new homes between 2021-22 and 2038-39, averaging 816 per year. Around 4,200 homes, including 30% affordable homes, will be built as part of the plans for the southeast Warrington extension.
At least 2,400 of these are expected to be built before March 2039. Through the Local Plan, the council has earmarked green belt land for 4,200 homes, with 2,400 to be delivered within the plan period.
However, concerns have been raised about the impact of the development, particularly on traffic. When asked if the infrastructure could cope with the addition of 4,200 new homes, a council spokesperson responded: “The Local Plan allocation policy for the south east Warrington urban extension (SEWUE) necessitates a broad range of supporting infrastructure, including new primary schools, a secondary school, a leisure facility, health facilities, local shops and community facilities, playing pitches, an extensive network of green open spaces, a community recycling centre and a comprehensive package of transport improvements.”
“We have every confidence that the necessary infrastructure will be in place in a timely manner to support the new residential community. The deliverability of the SEWUE allocation, including the delivery of supporting infrastructure, was given detailed consideration during the independent examination of the Local Plan.”
In order to guide the development of the SEWUE, the allocation policy requires the preparation of a comprehensive development framework, to be approved by the council before any planning applications are submitted. The development framework will include an infrastructure delivery plan to confirm the details of the key physical, social and environmental infrastructure required to support the SEWUE, including when the infrastructure is required, how it will be funded and the mechanism for delivery.
“As the principal landowner, Homes England has commenced work on the development framework and has undertaken their first stage of community engagement. It is anticipated that the development framework will be completed during 2025.”
The council has expressed confidence that the local transport network will be able to handle the additional demand generated by the SEWUE. A spokesperson elaborated: “The allocation policy requires the delivery of comprehensive package of transport improvements to support the SEWUE.
“This includes new highways infrastructure, walking and cycling routes and new public transport infrastructure within the allocation itself and enhanced connections and improvements to the wider transport network.
“These wider improvements include new and improved connections to the A49, an improved connection to the A50 and contributions to improvements at Junction 10 of the M56 and Junction 20 of the M6. Public transport improvements will connect the new community with Stockton Heath; Warrington town centre and employment opportunities within the wider Warrington area. Delivery of transport infrastructure was given specific consideration at the Local Plan examination. It will also be a key element of the development framework and is being informed by detailed transport modelling work.”
The Local Plan for Warrington aims to deliver 14,688 homes per year, between 2021-22 and 2038-39, which equates to 816 per year.
The spokesperson added: “The Local Plan has an average housing requirement of 816 homes per annum. Given the lead in time for the infrastructure to support the larger allocations in the plan, including the SEWU, the plan provides for a stepped housing requirement. The housing requirement from 202 From 2021-22 to 2025-26, the area is set to see the construction of 678 dwellings per annum, with a projected increase to 870 homes per annum over the remainder of the plan period up to 2038-39.A representative revealed: “We have delivered 684 homes in 2021-22, 1,472 homes in 2022-23 and we will shortly be confirming our housing completions for 2023-24.”
