WARRINGTON Borough Council has been left disappointed” by the controversial decision to grant outline planning permission for a 1,200 home development at Peel Hall, following more than 30 years of planning battles.
As reported yesterday on Warrington Worldwide a public inquiry inspector has allowed Satnam Development’s appeal against the refusal of planning permission by the borough council, which has been endorsed by the Secretary of State.
A Council spokesperson said: “At the end of this long and well-defended process, we are disappointed with the decision from the Secretary of State which allows the appeal at Peel Hall, and we understand that many of our residents and communities will be left frustrated by the outcome.
“The detail of the decision and supporting report is lengthy – more than 150 pages – and we need to understand the full contents of this documentation before we consider the next possible steps.”
The decision has left local campaigners devasted and heartbroken after more than three decades of campaigning to stop the development of the “last green lung” in the area.
It is understood the 150-page appeal document includes stringent conditions before full planning consent is granted.
Local campaigners have also been left disappointed by the council’s decision to leave the area in the Updated Draft Local Plan.
Landowner Satnam was seeking outline planning permission for a 1,200 home multi-use neighbourhood. The appeal inquiry came after the developer was successful in obtaining a High Court ruling.
The full report can be read HEREPeel-Hall-Warrington-31785394ORD
Meanwhile Council leader Cllr. Russ Bowden has blamed the “shoddy Tory Government” for allowing the application on appeal, saying the council had repeatedly refused the applicationf or thirty years.
But local Tory party Chair Cllr Wendy Maisey hit back, blaming the council for keeping the land as an area of development in the Local Plan.
A planning application repeatedly refused by WBC for >30 years & yet granted on appeal by the Secretary of State. That is a betrayal by this shoddy Tory Government, plain and simple.
— Cllr Russ Bowden (@CllrRussBowden) November 10, 2021
Nope, don’t pass the buck to the Government. It was within your remit to take it out of the local plan but you stated at council you were keeping it in to protect it.
— Councillor Wendy Maisey OBE (@WendyMaisey) November 10, 2021
An utter slap in the face.
After more than 30 years of campaigning by the local community in Warrington North to protect Peel Hall, the Tory Secretary of State has granted planning permission, siding with wealthy developers and not local people. pic.twitter.com/94yXXSA0QY
— Charlotte Nichols (@charlotte2153) November 10, 2021
