A PUBLIC inquiry into controversial plans for a huge distribution hub on green belt land in south Warrington started today, Tuesday.

Outline proposals for the major employment site, which would be named Six 56 Warrington, submitted by developers Langtree and Panattoni were approved by the council’s development management committee in March last year.

The application was approved subject to conditions and a S106 obligation, as well as the secretary of state not wishing to intervene.

It would be located next to junction 20 of the M6 and junction nine of the M56 in Lymm.

In May last year, the secretary of state advised that he was content that the application should be determined by the local authority and would not be ‘called in’.

But in November, the secretary of state confirmed that the application should be referred to him and ‘called in’, and decided to hold a public inquiry into the plans.

The public inquiry – which is taking place at The Base, on Dallam Lane – is being conducted by inspector Roger Catchpole.

During the first day of the inquiry today, Sasha White KC, representing the appellants, highlighted the ‘compelling’ current need for the development and stated the site is ‘perfectly located’.

Furthermore, he said the site ‘can be delivered’ and the application provides an ‘incredible opportunity’ for economic benefits and growth.

“The reality is we are in an economic crisis in the UK at the moment and we must embrace growth or there will be significant social and economic consequences,” he added.

John Groves, representing the South Warrington Parish Councils Group, said the ‘starting point’ is that the proposal is ‘inappropriate development’ in the green belt.

He also told the inquiry it is considered that harm to the green belt has been ‘underplayed’ while ‘over emphasising’ economic benefit.

Meanwhile, John Appleton, representing the Stretton neighbourhood development plan group, as the chair of that emerging neighbourhood development plan, expressed concerns over the proposals.

He said the proposals are considered inappropriate due to the scale, adding the scale of the development is ‘literally a blot on the landscape’.