WARRINGTON Borough Council has answered whether a Government announcement will have any impact on the target to build almost 15,000 homes by 2038-39.

An overhaul of the planning system has been announced, as the Government sets out ‘tough decisions necessary to fix the foundations and grow the economy’.

All councils in England are to be given new, mandatory housing targets to pave the way to deliver 1.5 million more homes – tackling the ‘most acute housing crisis in living memory’.

The new targets will mean councils ‘must boost’ housebuilding in areas ‘most in need’, helping more people buy their own homes, ‘removing the largest barriers to economic growth, and getting Britain building again’.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “Our decisive reforms to the planning system correct the errors of the past and set us on our way to tackling the housing crisis, delivering 1.5 million homes for those who really need them.

“And something I am personally proud of, our new flexibilities for councils will boost the number of social and affordable homes, and give working families a better route to a secure home.”

Warrington’s Local Plan was adopted in December 2023.

The Local Plan – which aims to deliver the homes, jobs, supporting infrastructure and community facilities the town needs – was formally adopted as the new development plan for the borough at the full council meeting in December 2023.

It aims to deliver a minimum of 14,688 new homes between 2021-22 and 2038-39, equating to 816 per year.

Furthermore, it aims to support 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 council has been asked if the announcement from the Government has any impact on the Warrington Local Plan, and the target to build a minimum of 14,688 new homes in the town by 2038-39.

“Our Local Plan was adopted in December 2023, and delivering a minimum of 14,688 homes between 2021-22 and 2038-39 is included in this plan,” said a spokesman.

The spokesman added: “Land has been released from the green belt and the green belt boundary has now been redrawn, so we can meet the housing requirements in the Local Plan.

“The adopted Local Plan does not allow for residential development within the current designated green belt.

“The council has had to satisfy a Government inspector, through the Local Plan examination process, that the housing figures are deliverable within Warrington’s Local Plan period.”

Furthermore, the council says the identified urban site, in addition to the allocation sites, includes a 20 per cent buffer to allow for any leeway in the delivery of housing, reflecting advice from the Government.

Housing target figures have shown that, in Warrington, a total of 791 homes year are to be built under the existing proposals, but that this is to increase to 1,146 under the revised proposals.

However, the council says the 791 homes figure, from the recent Government consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework, relates to the 2023-24 period and does not account for the fact Warrington now has an adopted Local Plan.

It also said that the increase in the housing requirement to 1,146 homes per year under the Government’s consultation will not change the housing requirement/target set out in the recently adopted Warrington Local Plan.