Following a resolution by the council’s Development Management Committee to approve the application subject to conditions and a S106 obligation in March 2022, the application was referred to the Secretary of State due to the site’s location within the Green Belt and the scale of the proposed development.

In November 2022, the Secretary of State directed that the application should be referred to him instead of being dealt with by the local planning authority and decided to hold an inquiry.

A Planning Inspector from the Planning Inspectorate has been instructed by the Secretary of State to oversee the inquiry. The Planning Inspectorate deals with planning appeals, national infrastructure planning applications, examinations of local plans and other planning-related and specialise casework in England. The Planning Inspectorate is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

The Inspector will make a report and recommendation to the Secretary of State under the circumstances existing at the time he or she makes it. The Inspector will take account of:

• the material submitted to the local planning authority;
• all the documents, required by the Inquiries Procedure Rules;
• any relevant legislation and policies, including changes to legislation, any new Government policy or guidance and any new or emerging development plan policies since the local planning authority’s decision was issued;
• any other matters that are material to the case.

No

The South Warrington Parish Councils have been granted Rule 6(6) status. Rule 6 parties are considered to be main parties in the inquiry process. They will be sent copies of documents sent to the Inspectorate by the other main parties and will be entitled to appear at the inquiry and to cross-examine other parties.

All representations received have been sent to the Planning Inspectorate.

The deadline for making additional comments to the Planning Inspectorate is 3 February 2023. Additional comments may be accepted after this date but this will be at the discretion of the Planning Inspectorate.

Comments should be sent to:

The Planning Inspectorate, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Bristol, BS1 6PN

Or by E-mail to ALISON.DYSON@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

All representations must quote the inquiry reference number APP/M0655/V/22/3311877

The inquiry will take place on eight days over two weeks in May – 9-12 and 23-26 May at The Base, Dallam Lane, Warrington, WA2 7NG. 

Yes. Further details will be confirmed in due course.

3 February 2023 – deadline for the submission of representations to the Planning Inspectorate

8 February 2023 – the main parties must submit their Statements of Case to the Planning Inspectorate

15 February – the Inspector will hold a Case Management Conference with the main parties 

11 April 2023 – the main parties must submit their proofs of evidence to the Planning Inspectorate

9 May 2023 – the inquiry opens at 10am and will run on 9-12 and 23-26 May.