Green Belt concerns thwart £75m Warrington scheme
The local authority’s planning committee went against officers’ recommendations and blocked Extra MSA’s plans for a service station and 100-bedroom hotel off junction 11 of the M62.
The £75m development was proposed for 41 acres north-east of Warrington town centre, close to an area of land safeguarded by HS2 for the creation of the high-speed rail project.
Proposals for the motorway service station featured:
- An 80 – 100-bedroom hotel
- A fuel filling station for cars and HGVs with associated retail outlet
- On-site parking for cars, HGV’s coaches, caravans and motorcycles
- External amenity space for visitors to the building
Warrington Council’s planning committee refused to grant permission for the project due to the impact it could have on the Green Belt. However, the developer maintains that there are no non-Green belt options to meet the “established need” for a service station in the area.
In addition, Extra MSA said the project could provide an £8m-a-year-boost to Warrington’s economy and create around 228 jobs once complete.
The scheme was designed by Leeds-based Architecture 519, and Spawforths is the planning consultant.
