Orford Park planning application submitted

THE exciting new £30 million development of a community sports hub in Orford moved a step closer to reality on Monday 15 June when the outline planning application was submitted. The submission will cover the site master plan and revised building elevations and will be considered by the development control committee on Thursday 27 August.
 
A series of workshops held in April gave community groups, service users and residents the opportunity to review the latest site plans and building layouts and receive a full update on the project’s progress. Comments received at the workshops informed the final layout now being submitted for outline planning permission.

Further consultation on the internal design of the community sports facility will be held in late summer and will enable the detailed design to be finalised prior to submitting the full planning application information for approval in August.

The community sports hub building will contain a library with IT suites, meeting rooms, a café, swimming pools, health and fitness facilities, sports hall, creche and community rooms.

NHS Warrington plans to provide three GP practices within the project along with a pharmacy and a lifestyle team which will help patients who want to lose weight, quit smoking and drink fewer units.

Outside there will be walking and cycling paths around the new grass pitches which will link into the existing park. The current play areas will be upgraded and extended to appeal to all age groups. There will also be skateboarding and BMX parks.

The existing bowling greens will be floodlit and a new pavilion will be built, with well-lit pedestrian access all around the site. The area will be covered by CCTV and the main access to the site will be from Winwick Road with a bus stop outside the building.

Plans can be viewed by the public at the following locations:
• Customer Contact Centre Reception
• Orford Library
• Warrington Library
• Longford Neighbourhood Services Centre
• Orford Neighbourhood Project Office (T. O. N. P.) Cotswold Road Community Building
• Fordton Leisure Centre
• New Town House Reception
• Town Hall Reception

The plans can also be viewed online at http://orfordproject.warrington.gov.uk

Any comments on the development can be submitted to the Development Control Section in writing prior to the Planning Approval Committee Meeting on 27 August 2009 at the following address: Development Control Section, Environment & Regeneration Directorate, New Town House, Buttermarket Street, Warrington, WA1 2NH.

Cllr Mike Hannon, Community Champion said: “This is another huge milestone for the Orford Park project and we hope people will take the opportunity to view the plans and get involved. The project will regenerate the Orford area and bring significant benefits for the local community and beyond.”

Ends

Issued by:  Estelle Harris,senior press officer
Date:   Friday 19 June 2009
Release: Immediate