New investment into Birchwood Trident Park amid controversy

A business has procured a two-storey office block on the premises, as part of the rejuvenation of its North West offices.

Wain Group is a specialist in housebuilding and property.

The housing specialists have also refurbished their North West headquarters (Image: Wain Homes)

The group has completed a double investment to purchase its new office block on Trident Business Park, as well as the refurbishment of its offices at Kelburn Court, in Daten Park.

Wain Group's offices in the area will host 100 employees, which will increase as the business grows - they will cover all aspects of the business, including marketing, IT, design, procurement, and finance.

Will Ainscough, executive chairman of Wain Group, said: "[The office block] serves as an efficient base for our Wain Homes Hub, which provides essential support services to all four Wain Homes regions.

"Having access to the very best, modern office space is incredibly important to the well-being of all our team and makes us an attractive proposition for talented people looking for the next steps in their careers."

Wain Group's new offices will provide a workspace for around 100 employees (Image: Wain Homes)

However, this comes as residents are up in arms with the developers of Trident Business Park over planning applications that could see a number of properties on the site demolished, and residents' homes losing value.

Following complaints from residents - and the unanimous opposition from Birchwood Town Council toward the project - the developers of Trident Business Park, St Modwen, announced that changes would be made to the project.

Changes include the reduction in height of planned distribution centres.

However, residents feel as though the application changes do not go far enough - the trees being planted to screen the building, for instance, will take 15 years to mature enough to become effective, they say.

One resident said: "What this planning application has always failed to identify is the massive traffic this will generate in a residential area.

"Fears are that should this get approval it will change the landscape of Warrington East and not just the directly affected properties for generations to come and will further industrialise Birchwood in an existing heavily-industrialised area."

The Old Noggin pub is being eyed for demolition for the proposed develpments (Image: Maps)

Birchwood Town Council raised the fear was the increased traffic on roads that are already unsuitable for HGVs to be using.

Throughout the application stages, the treatment of smaller businesses on the park has come into question, with two businesses coming forward complaining of how they were treated by St Modwen during the process.

One electrical company had been on the site for years, and an outdoor adventure business was on the site for over five years - both businesses felt forced out of the park by the developers.

According to developers, they feel as though their latest document addresses all concerns, and they consider the matters to be resolved.

Land highlighted in yellow is being eyed for developments (Image: Maps)

Speaking to the Warrington Guardian, a spokesperson for St Modwen said: "We submitted revised plans to redevelop Trident Business Park, delivering two new sustainable warehouses and providing employment opportunities and substantial economic growth to the local area.

"Throughout the planning process, we have liaised closely with Trident Business Park tenants offering support to those remaining on-site including helping occupiers find alternative premises if required."