A COUNCIL says it is ‘confident’ that the transport network will be able to accommodate the additional demand generated by thousands of new homes in part of  a Cheshire town.

Land in south Warrington removed from the green belt has been earmarked for around 4,200 homes.

With the site having been allocated for development in Warrington Borough Council’s Local Plan, Homes England is planning for a proposed extension to south east Warrington with ‘sustainability at its heart’.

The proposed new housing and infrastructure, as part of the extension to south east Warrington, will affect land around Grappenhall, Grappenhall Heys, Appleton and Stretton.

Warrington’s Local Plan was adopted 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.

Around 4,200 homes will be built as part of the plans for the extension to south east Warrington, including 30 per cent affordable homes.

At least 2,400 of these are set to be built in the Local Plan period, before March 2039.

Through the Local Plan, the council has removed land from the green belt for 4,200 homes, of which 2,400 will be delivered in the plan period.

The council has been asked if it is confident that the infrastructure will be in place to cope with 4,200 new homes in the area.

In response, a spokesman said: “The Local Plan allocation policy for the south east Warrington urban extension (SEWUE) requires the provision of a wide range of supporting infrastructure, including new primary schools, a secondary school, a leisure facility, health facilities, local shops and community facilities, playing pitches, an extensive network of green open spaces, a community recycling centre and a comprehensive package of transport improvements.

“We have every confidence that the necessary infrastructure will be in place in a timely manner to support the new residential community.

“The deliverability of the SEWUE allocation, including the delivery of supporting infrastructure, was given detailed consideration during the independent examination of the Local Plan.

“In order to guide the development of the SEWUE, the allocation policy requires the preparation of a comprehensive development framework, to be approved by the council before any planning applications are submitted. The development framework will include an infrastructure delivery plan to confirm the details of the key physical, social and environmental infrastructure required to support the SEWUE, including when the infrastructure is required, how it will be funded and the mechanism for delivery.

“As the principal landowner, Homes England has commenced work on the development framework and has undertaken their first stage of community engagement. It is anticipated that the development framework will be completed during 2025.”

Furthermore, the council says it is ‘confident’ that the transport network in the area will be able to accommodate the additional demand generated by the SEWUE.

The spokesman added: “The allocation policy requires the delivery of comprehensive package of transport improvements to support the SEWUE.

“This includes new highways infrastructure, walking and cycling routes and new public transport infrastructure within the allocation itself and enhanced connections and improvements to the wider transport network.

“These wider improvements include new and improved connections to the A49, an improved connection to the A50 and contributions to improvements at Junction 10 of the M56 and Junction 20 of the M6.

“Public transport improvements will connect the new community with Stockton Heath; Warrington town centre and employment opportunities within the wider Warrington area.

“Delivery of transport infrastructure was given specific consideration at the Local Plan examination. It will also be a key element of the development framework and is being informed by detailed transport modelling work.”

Warrington’s Local Plan aims to deliver 14,688 homes per year, between 2021-22 and 2038-39, equating to 816 per year.

The spokesman said: “The Local Plan has an average housing requirement of 816 homes per annum.

“Given the lead in time for the infrastructure to support the larger allocations in the plan, including the SEWU, the plan provides for a stepped housing requirement.

“The housing requirement from 2021-22 to 2025-26 is 678 dwellings per annum, increasing to 870 homes per annum over the remainder of the plan period to 2038-39.

“We have delivered 684 homes in 2021-22, 1,472 homes in 2022-23 and we will shortly be confirming our housing completions for 23-24.”