WARRINGTON'S success as a growing town has been celebrated in a new report.

The great and the good of the business community met at the Park Royal Hotel in Stretton on Friday for the annual Warrington Property Review.

Almost 200 delegates were in place for the in person event which had been held virtually in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid.

Warrington Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for economic development and innovation, Cllr Tom Jennings, said: “It was fantastic to be able to return to a physical event for this year’s Annual Property Review. The event was a huge success, giving our businesses the opportunity to gain a valuable insight into Warrington’s economic performance.

Warrington Guardian:

 

“We have a robust, innovative and resilient business sector, which has left us in a strong position to meet the unprecedented challenges of the past two years. Now, we are looking to the future - and we can be very encouraged.

“Warrington remains a very attractive place to do business, and the new investment we are seeing coming into our town gives us every reason to feel confident about our ongoing growth. It was great to be able to share this confidence with business leaders from across the borough.”

Council Chief Executive and Chair of Warrington & Co, Prof Steven Broomhead MBE, said: “Over the past year, Warrington’s business community has once again shown strong resilience, community spirit and partnership.

“Warrington’s Annual Property Review highlights a number of success stories which show that our town remains a business and investment leader. This gives us great optimism as we continue on our journey towards a bright and successful future.

“We were delighted to once again have the opportunity to showcase to our business community the ongoing growth of our town as a thriving, confident, business-friendly destination.”

The day described success of the past year including:

•  Securing £22m in Town Deal funding to deliver a programme of seven transformative projects. The first of these on site, a new, cutting-edge bus depot, will support one of the largest all-electric bus fleets in the UK.

•  The Cities Outlook report finding that the resilience of high street spending in Warrington during the Covid-19 pandemic has seen the town outperforming most other big cities and towns.

• An overall increase in investment in Warrington, with some significant office deals completed, including the University of Chester relocating all of its teaching provision to Warrington town centre.

• A huge uplift in house sales and prices, and plans moving forward for a brand new hotel close to Warrington Bank Quay train station.

Plans have been approved for a 126-bedroom hotel, submitted by Falconer Chester Hall and real estate firm Clifford Christian Estates, which would see construction take place on a 0.4 ha site on the edge of Centre Park. The site, which is currently being used as a surface level car park off Slutchers Lane, will be the new home of the seven-storey development close to Warrington Bank Quay train station, benefitting from the recently completed Centre Park Link Road. Plans also include a 76-space car park.

 

•  Warrington’s success in hosting the Tour of Britain cycling race for the first time, boosting our local economy, bringing an influx of visitors and showcasing the town’s sporting credentials to a global audience.

Warrington Guardian:

 

The Warrington Annual Property Review is hosted each year by Warrington & Co – the town’s urban regeneration and inward investment partnership.