Between 11 November 2020 and 23 December 2020, we ran a public engagement event.

Due to covid-19 this was done digitally, by phone and delivered letters. The purpose of this engagement was to update people on the progress in developing the scheme design since appointing our details designers in early 2020. 

Warrington Western Link route engagement drawing - Nov 2020

The feedback we received will be reviewed and the response data used to produce a Statement of Community Involvement for the scheme planning application.

As part of the planning application process there will be a further period for all stakeholders to review the submitted application and provide further comments before a decision is made.

• Surveys and site investigations
• Detailed design
• Submission of a major planning application
• Acquisition of land either by negotiation or through a Highways Compulsory Purchase Order (HCPO).
• Look at work on statutory undertaker’s diversions and ecological mitigation
• Engage with the community and residents. We will do this throughout the development and delivery of the scheme, which will require a number of formal consultations.
• It's anticipated that an inquiry will be required to confirm the planning permission for the scheme, a HCPO and other orders and consents needed to construct the scheme.
• Complementary junction improvements – the Outline Business Case demonstrated that we will need to bring forward a series of off-site highway improvements. These are needed because a number of junctions, primarily to the northern end of the scheme, have been shown to operate beyond capacity at the point that the new link was to open. These will need to be delivered in advance of the main scheme opening. Funding for these was budgeted for, within the outline business case submission, at a value of £5m and was included as part of Cabinet approval.
• Due to the impact of this scheme there's potential for a loss of sports pitches at Morley Common. However, when officers engaged with Sport England during the previous phase of development, they stated that new and improved facilities must in place prior to any loss. This could be in the form of new or enhanced existing facilities elsewhere in the borough, but no definitive location has been confirmed. A budget to replace any lost sports and play facilities was underwritten by Cabinet.

The Warrington Western Link Project is currently carrying out  a gateway review exercise. This is a common step in the development and delivery of all major infrastructure projects, is detailed in nature and can take a number of months to complete. It gives us the opportunity to review the scope and design of the project, its likely impact on the environment, the predicted benefits it is expected to bring for the people and economy of Warrington, and the potential impact of more recently identified changes in government policy and guidance.

It also allows us to review the total estimated cost of the scheme, which is both timely and especially prudent, in light of the current economic climate, which is one of historically high inflation and severe pressure on local authority and central government budgets.

This review is necessary before we and the Department of Transport could be expected to commit significant resources to the next stage of the scheme’s development. Whilst a significant amount of work has been done on the review, more remains to be done before any firm recommendations can given on when and how we proceed. It is currently anticipated, however, that the review will be complete by late spring/early summer.

We will endeavour to communicate to the public all decisions made in respect of the western link as soon as it able and provide revised timescales once they are known.

During 2018, the scheme was independently looked at by DfT. It was considered against other major infrastructure schemes across England, as part of their Large Local Majors Fund. In April 2019, we were informed that funding for the scheme had been conditionally granted.

On 8 July, cabinet agreed to accept this offer made by DfT. We are now working on a the design details and the major scheme business case The western link will be one of the largest engineering projects in the North West.