WARRINGTON Borough Council is inviting local residents to share their views on a new document aimed at ensuring a well-designed, vibrant, attractive and sustainable future for the town centre.
The council has launched a public consultation on its draft Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which will set out the design expectations of the Council for developers bringing forward proposals in the town centre.
The document will support the Council in managing the increasing number of development proposals coming forward in the town centre, by:
• Bringing together the Council’s vision and aspirations for the sustainable development of the town centre to benefit all residents, business and visitors to the town.
• Establishing clear design principles to guide new development in the town centre and across key development sites.
• Requiring developers to give more detailed consideration to how their proposals will contribute to the wider town centre at the start of their design process.
Warrington Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for environment, public protection and climate change, Cllr Judith Guthrie, said: “We have strong ambitions to make our town centre an attractive, thriving and sustainable place for everyone who lives, work and visits here. Our SPD will play an important part in that, by setting the framework for future development.
“Delivering a high quality environment in the heart of our town will benefit us all, so it’s vital that local people play their part in shaping our SPD. Please get involved in the consultation and let us know your views on the document. All views will be taken on board.”
The SPD focuses on a number of key areas, including:
• Preserving and enhancing the town centre’s heritage and cultural assets, whilst facilitating increased densities of development, including taller buildings in appropriate locations
• Creating a green town centre through strong relationships between new buildings and new and improved open, green and riverside space, along with the progression towards zero carbon targets
• Ensuring sustainable development, with good links to public transport, and promoting improved pedestrian and cycle routes in line with the Council’s ‘First and Last Mile’ Masterplan.
• Setting standards for new town centre homes, including minimum space standards, ensuring good levels of daylight and natural ventilation, and requiring provision of outdoor private amenity space.
The Council’s Cabinet Member for economic development and innovation, Cllr Tom Jennings, said: “Warrington town centre is undergoing a renaissance – high quality, affordable housing; new developments which complement what we have and unlock sustained investment; clean, green infrastructure; and first-class transport links. It’s vital that people are at the heart of it all.
“Our SPD sets out the principles through which we will enable the sustainable developments we aspire to see in our town centre. By taking part in the consultation, you can help us make sure we get this important document right.”
The council is now consulting with the public on the draft Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). You can make comments about the document by emailing [email protected], or by writing to: Planning Policy and Programmes Team, Warrington Borough Council, East Annex, Town Hall, Sankey Street, Warrington, WA1 1UH.
The council will be collating the feedback and documenting the various themes of people’s responses. The final consultation report will inform the final version of the SPD which will be presented to the Cabinet of the Council later in the year for final approval.
The consultation period runs until Sunday 14 March 2021. For more information, to read the document in full and have your say, visit warrington.gov.uk/TownCentreSPD
If you have any questions, please call 01925 442826 or email [email protected]. The team aims to respond to a specific question by email within five working days, during the consultation period.
