Warrington’s rejected development hinders government growth ambitions
Secretary of state Angela Rayner has refused plans to build a new logistics development in Warrington due to Green Belt concerns.
Despite the plans being approved by Warrington Council two years ago, the project, which was otherwise known as Six56, will no longer go ahead. Six56 was due to turn into a new logistics development just off Junction 20 of the M6, south of the town centre.
Image: A blueprint of what the development was supposed to look like. Credit: via Merrion Strategy
Developers Langtree and Panattoni originally submitted the proposals which outlined that the scheme – that was due to cost around £300million – could create 4,000 jobs and generate £7.1million a year for the local economy.
Despite the plans positives, Angela Rayner has rejected the application due to the harm it would inflict on the Green Belt. Originally, a draft version of Warrington’s recently adopted local plan outlines that the scheme was proposed for land that had been earmarked for release from the Green Belt, but the allocation was stripped from the final edition and is expected to remain.
Meanwhile, the Planning Inspectorate recognised the need for logistics accommodation in the area but claimed the demand is ‘overstated’ and based on ‘subjective opinion rather than robust quantitative data’.
What’s more, the recent criticisms the scheme has faced were not the first. In 2022 Six56 received more than 900 objections from members of the public, with the majority also citing building on the Green Belt as the main problem.
In addition, Michael Gove wrote to the local authority two years ago asking them to refrain from approving the application so that he could have the option to call it in.
Commenting on the decision, members of Langtree and Panattoni said it ‘flies in the face of the government’s stated growth ambitions.’
John Downes, group chief executive of the organisation said: ‘We are disappointed, but this was always a possibility.
‘We’ll take a good look at the ruling and assess our options.’
In related news:
Deputy prime minister pledges cladding will be fixed by 2029
