A NUMBER of planning applications were submitted to Warrington Borough Council in November.

Applications are subject to scrutiny from the council's planning officers, and some receive criticism from residents, too.

Here are five of the most controversial planning stories covered in the Warrington Guardian in November.

Culcheth could see 186 homes built opposite schools

Warrington Guardian: The highlighted area is being eyed for the developmentThe highlighted area is being eyed for the development (Image: Maps)

The proposals detail a housing development on land opposite both Culcheth Community Primary and Culcheth High Schools.

According to the documents, the plans are to assess the viability of the development of 186 homes on the land.

A development is being proposed for land opposite Culcheth's main primary and secondary schools, and adjacent to fields used by Culcheth Eagles.

The land is off Warrington Road and Holcroft Lane, and spans approximately 8.4 hectares.

30 per cent of the proposed homes would be 'affordable' housing - equating to roughly 56 houses.

The proposals also state that a new children's play area would be constructed in the community if the council grants permission for the plans.

Retirement flats approved on site of former Orford sex dungeon

Warrington Guardian: The building was subject to an arson attack some years agoThe building was subject to an arson attack some years ago (Image: Newsquest)

The site at Orford Farm, off School Road, was formerly home to a sex fetish club which boasted specialist rooms including a dungeon, a pigsty, a head teacher’s study, a medical room and a school room.

Previous plans were submitted to Warrington Borough Council in March to build a three-storey apartment block comprising of 50 apartments for residents aged 55 and above.

But these were rejected by the council’s development management committee in September.

Following a meeting with residents, amended plans by the applicant came back before the committee – and these were approved by the committee, after members agreed that the applicant had made sufficient changes to the application.

Appeal in progress for Culcheth CPS car park plans

Warrington Guardian: The car park at the CPS centre is subject to a planning appealThe car park at the CPS centre is subject to a planning appeal (Image: Maps)

Proposals were submitted to Warrington Borough Council regarding the removal of 22 car parking spaces from Culcheth CPS Shopping Centre at the beginning of the year.

The documents suggest that the bulk of the current car parking area could become two new retail units if plans are approved.

The proposals proved to be controversial, with a number of objections being made on the council's planning portal.

A summary for the proposal reads: "Replacement of existing car parking area with a two-storey mixed-use building consisting of two Class E units at ground floor level and three residential units at first-floor level, new public realm and ancillary works."

Communal living area proposed for disused Bridge Street buildings

Warrington Guardian: The buildings in question on Bridge Street have been disused since 2019The buildings in question on Bridge Street have been disused since 2019 (Image: Supplied)

Plans submitted to Warrington Borough Council highlight developers' ambitions to transform a disused building on Bridge Street into a communal living space with 10 bedrooms.

The developers suggest that 127 and 129-131 Bridge Street could be transformed into affordable housing.

The developers say that there would be no need for dedicated car parking to be created to service the HMO project, but 10 spaces for bike storage are included in the initial plans.

It is noted that the project would not be able to go ahead without obtaining an HMO licence from the council, which would require inspectors to visit the property and approve of its conditions - something that developers say would ensure the high quality of the accommodation.

Local Plan set to be approved, with up to 15,000 homes created

Councillors are set to adopt the Local Plan, which will see up to 15,000 homes created in the next 15 years.

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.

A report to full council says this is to ensure the council has an up-to-date Local Plan which is effective in promoting and guiding Warrington’s future growth in a ‘sustainable manner’ and that the ‘social and physical infrastructure necessary to support an increasing resident and working population is delivered.'