HSE denies causing ‘crippling’ delays to 545 Runcorn homes inquiry
SOG will have to wait until September at the earliest to plead its case to the Planning Inspectorate in the hopes of obtaining approval for the proposed redevelopment of Heath Business and Technical Park – almost a year after the project was called in by secretary of state Angela Rayner.
The 57-acre Runcorn project would provide 545 homes, as well as a hotel, extra care facilities, conference centre, shops, and offices on two plots: one at Heath Business and Technical Park and one on land north of Heath Road South. The former home to the headquarters of the chemical company ICI also forms part of the application site.
SOG’s application, approved by Halton Council last May, was called in by Rayner in October 2024 over public safety concerns raised by the Health and Safety Executive.
The inquiry was originally planned for February but has since been pushed to the autumn. SOG has blamed HSE for this hold-up.
SOG owner John Lewis has written to Rayner asking her to pull the inquiry and accused HSE of riding roughshod over due process.
“SOG and the local authority were both fully prepared to contest the inquiry, due to be held in February 2025,” he said.
“The Planning Inspectorate made a directive in October 2024 for the terms and timetable for his inquiry, and we are concerned HSE appear to be allowed to constantly change the directions set by the inspector without consequence.”
Lewis said the months-long delay to the inquiry is “crippling” for the company and accused HSE of employing “delaying tactics”, a claim the quango refutes.
“This entire process is becoming financially unsustainable for an SME business such as ours,” Lewis said.
“This is deeply frustrating. This never-ending inquiry is delaying an award-winning scheme that will regenerate a vital business asset in the North West.”
He added: “If the call-in had led to a court case rather than a public inquiry, we believe these delaying tactics instigated by the HSE and allowed by the inspector wouldn’t be tolerated in a court of law.”
An HSE spokesperson said: “We did not request a delay and do not recognise the statements made by the applicant.”
HSE’s objection relates to the site’s proximity to the Runcorn Chemical Complex and the potential for contamination.
SOG “totally refutes” HSE’s claim that the scheme poses a risk to public safety, which it says is based on information that is “30 years out of date”.
“We believe the perceived risk is grossly over-stated by the HSE,” said Lewis.
Once the inquiry gets underway, the evidence relating to public safety will be held behind closed doors “due to a Section 321 notice being put in place for reasons of national security,” Lewis explained.
The HSE spokesperson added: “Our advice for planning applications is well established and has kept communities safe for nearly 50 years, following the Flixborough explosion in 1974.
“We assess the public safety risks using scientific models based on research, learning from incidents worldwide, and information from industry. We will continue to work with the Planning Inspectorate to ensure relevant public safety issues associated with this application are fully considered.”
HSE’s behaviour is not only costing the SOG, Lewis said.
“The HSE’s stance means costs escalate every day,” he said. “The HSE is a department funded by the taxpayer, while SOG is self-funded and cannot claim any costs.
“This inquiry overall will cost an SME and the taxpayer millions of pounds at a time when Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer has vowed to overhaul and simplify the planning system to enable the government to deliver on the pledge to build 1.5m new homes during their term of office.”
The inquiry is due to begin on 30 September.
