Warrington Borough Council is currently developing a design code for the Central 6 wards with an initial focus on Fairfield & Howley, Latchford East and Latchford West – and wants the community to have their say.

Design codes help shape places, supporting vibrant and healthy communities by guiding the development of new homes and better public spaces, all while enhancing local character.

In order to develop a plan that meets the local needs, it is crucial that residents are central to the plans - and the council has teamed up with students from The University of Sheffield to deliver a range of community engagement events.

The students – who are all studying for their Master’s degrees in Architecture, are leading two community engagement workshops in the Central 6 area on the following dates:

• Wednesday 23 October 2pm-3.30pm -– Westy Community Centre, WA4 1TA
• Thursday 24 October, 6pm–7.30pm – St James’ Church, WA4 6PS

Supported by council planning officers, the events will give local people the opportunity to share what different places mean to them – what’s important, what could be improved, what defines a place.

Under the themes of sense of place, use of space, natural space and safety, people will be asked to map out their area and contribute their thoughts about a range of issues, such as what buildings and spaces they identify with, where they most visit and why, how well local space is used, their favourite green spaces how safe they feel in the area.

The workshops will help the council understand how people currently perceive their local environment, which in turn will help shape the design code for the area.

If you’d like to attend any of the events, there’s no need to book. Please just come along – we’d love to see you there.

What else is happening?

As part of their community engagement work, the students are also setting up community ‘pop-up shops’, with a range of materials available for people to interact with, including posters, discussion boards, maps and post-it note exercises.

The pop-up shops will be running, all day as follows:

• Pavilion Tea Rooms, St Elphin’s Park, WA1 3GF - Wednesday 23 – Wednesday 30 October. The students will be on-site on Wednesday 23 October from 2pm-3.30pm, to speak to visitors and provide information and guidance on engaging with the activities.
• Community Shop Bewsey, WA5 0BA - Wednesday 23 – Wednesday 30 October

The students will also be engaging with schools, along with faith groups. All the views and feedback collated will feed into the final design code for area.

In addition, the students are running a photography showcase, where people can send in photos of what is important to them in the wards of Fairfield & Howley, and East and West Latchford. If you’d like to take part, you can submit images via direct message on Instagram @warringtondesigncode and on Facebook – or you can tag your image with #warringtondesigncode

Take part in our survey!

As well as the community engagement events, a survey has been set up. This gives people the opportunity to share their views on the places, spaces and character of the Central 6 area and what is important to them. It’s open until Friday 1 November.

Cllr John Kerr-Brown, the council’s cabinet member responsible for planning policy and development, said: “We are developing a design code for Central 6 and we want to hear from you! Join us at one of our community workshops, visit a pop-up shop or take part in our survey to share your vision for the future of the area.

“Your input will help us create a design code that reflects the unique character and needs of our community. Whether you're passionate about preserving historic buildings, enhancing green spaces and local facilities, or improving safety, your voice matters. Let's work together to build a better future for everyone."

Notes to editors

• Design codes will be an important part of Warrington’s approach to securing high quality design, following on from the wider Warrington Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which sets out the council’s expectations and requirements for the design of new buildings, streets and open spaces.
• A good design code will:

-             Allow diverse, innovative, and creative design to flourish, while setting a baseline to ensure a consistent high standard of design across the development.

-             Ensure that developments demonstrate a holistic approach to the climate emergency.

-             Reference current local and national planning policy documents and best practice guidance.