Loss of green belt from Parkside scheme is 'criminal', inquiry told

Proposals to redevelop former colliery, which was shut in 1993, were originally submitted in January 2018 by Parkside Regeneration LLP, a joint venture between developer Langtree and St Helens Borough Council.

St Helens Borough Council granted outline planning permission in December 2019, while also giving the green light for the Parkside Link Road project, which is seen as a key element to unlocking the potential of the site.

READ > Public inquiry into Parkside development gets underway

Warrington Borough Council also granted planning permission for the £40 million link road scheme, which will see a single carriageway road built from the former colliery to Winwick Lane, adjacent to Junction 22 of the M6 motorway, by-passing congestion at Winwick.

The bulk of the funding for the scheme will come from a £24 million grant awarded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority from its Single Investment Fund (SIF) in October 2018.

Both phase 1 and the link road scheme are in the green belt, with the applicants have argued that “very special circumstances” outweigh any harm caused by the developments.

The current proposals have been met with fierce opposition from the public, with St Helens Borough Council receiving hundreds of objection letters.

Wigan and Warrington councils also objected to the phase 1 plans, although Warrington later withdrew its objection in the light of further information.

Due to the size of the scheme, both applications were referred to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and subsequently called in.

The public inquiry, which is being overseen by planning inspector Dominic Young, got underway this week and is expected to last around 16 days.

The first half of the inquiry will focus on the plans for phase 1 of the redevelopment, with the second half focusing on the link road scheme.

On Tuesday, the three main parties involved in the inquiry, Parkside Regeneration LLP, St Helens Borough Council and Parkside Action Group, all delivered their opening statements.

A number of other speakers also spoke, including Liberal Democrat councillor David Smith, who represents Newton on St Helens Borough Council.

“I’ve always felt that the main role of a councillor is to listen to the people who elected them and make sure that their views and concerns are heard,” Cllr Smith said.

“Since being elected in May 2019, the proposals for Parkside is the major concern that residents have contacted me about.”

Cllr Smith outlined a number of concerns that have been shared by residents.

He said the size of the warehouses – with up to one million sq ft of employment space proposed – is a “major concern” for many residents.

Cllr Smith also threw doubt over the applicant’s job figures.

The applicant has estimated the development of the Parkside site would provide 457 full time equivalent jobs during construction and 1,330 gross (930 net) jobs during operation.

Cllr Smith said: “I know and I understand that a main factor is to create jobs, but how many and at what cost?

“The vast majority of warehouses today are automated so wouldn’t necessarily provide many jobs. There are also many empty warehouses in the area.

“Another resident said the council needs to learn lessons from other projects, including Florida Farm, which is in St Helens borough.

“It was projected that there would be 2,500 jobs created in the first phase, but only 250 materialised.”

The Newton ward councillor said the Parkside Link Road project will have a “devastating effect” on the area.

He said: "The loss of a vast amount of green belt is unacceptable. One person said to me, once it's gone it's gone – and it's criminal."

Cllr Smith said he personally had a “major concern” over the increase in traffic through Newton, Winwick Road, Newton High Street and Southworth Road as a result of the current proposals.

These concerns were shared by Labour councillor Cathy Mitchell on Warrington Borough Council.

Cllr Mitchell, who represents Burtonwood and Winwick, said traffic in the village is already at “breaking point”.

She said the link road would alleviate pressure on Winwick, but said it needs to be in place before any units at the Parkside site are operational.

Cllr David Smith, Liberal Democrat councillor representing Newton for St Helens Borough Council

Cllr Mitchell said: “I do recognise however the need for economic growth and employment in the area.

“The proposed link road would help ensure that extra traffic from the development wouldn’t cause a significant impact on Winwick, so in my submission, the link road needs to be in place before any of the proposed units start to operate.

“So I would oppose and development on the site unless the link road is brought forward at the same time.”

In his submission, Cllr Smith said the overwhelming factor that has to be considered is the “great detrimental effect” the Parkside development will have on the air quality across the area.

“I worry about the effects of people’s health, both now and for future generations,” he said.

“We should be looking at reducing the amount of vehicles on our roads, not increasing them.

“So on behalf of myself and the residents whose views I was elected to represent.

“I totally oppose this massive overdevelopment at Parkside.”

The public inquiry continues.