COUNCIL chiefs have backed the Local Plan – which proposes huge development across the town.

It came before the council’s cabinet at its meeting on Monday – with members referring the final version of the document to full council, with a recommendation to formally adopt the Local Plan for 2021-22 to 2038-39 as the new development plan for the borough.

Members also recommended that full council approves the ‘main modifications’ to the Local Plan proposed by the independent inspectors for incorporation into the final version of the document, recommended that full council approves the amendments to the Local Plan policies map for incorporation into the final policies map, and recommended that full council approves the ‘minor modifications’ to the Local Plan for incorporation into the final version of it.

It includes proposals to deliver a minimum of 14,688 new homes, equating to 816 per year, between 2021-22 and 2038-39 – along with ‘supporting Warrington’s ongoing economic success’ by ensuring provision is made to ‘meet the need’ for 168 hectares of employment land between 2021-22 and 2038-39.

The plan will now proceed to full council on December 4 – with adoption of the local plan requiring approval by full council.

Council leader Cllr Russ Bowden said: “I think I’ve always been clear that developing a local plan is one of the hardest things that a local authority does because it’s trying to tread that fine line between the demands and desires of developers, and the views of local people.

“And growth, development, increasing development of the town does bring with it challenges because residents do have views about the town and the direction it’s going in.”

Cllr Bowden also said the council takes its responsibility as a planning authority ‘very seriously’.

He added: “We do need to ensure that here in Warrington we have control of the planning process and development, and too often that becomes a point of criticism or conflict for the council, in terms of planning law and the way that’s implemented.

“But planning is a complex task and what we need to do is ensure that we remain the planning authority, that we take that responsibility seriously and we ensure that development for the town is appropriate and meets the needs of local people and local businesses.”