SSE takes confidence from the extension of the vision statement beyond the 18 year plan period. This long-term vision will be important to the realisation of the Fiddlers Ferry masterplan and ensuring that the revised Green Belt boundaries are capable of enduring beyond the plan period. The 11 points of the vision statement are well balanced and proportionate.

SSE welcomes the six objectives on the whole.

SSE welcomes the six objectives. However, suggest modification to Objective W1.

SSE supports the spatial strategy as set out in Figure 3- Local Plan key diagram.

It is considered that the principle of the Policy Dev 1 will prove effective, facilitating both an appropriate and necessary housing strategy that will ensure the proper planning and sustainable development of the local area. ? It is acknowledged that the housing allocation at Fiddlers Ferry has a key role to play in the provision of housing for both the existing and future population of the area in the manner set out in the draft local plan.

There is a clear need for substantial new housing supply in Warrington and Policy DEV 2 is considered a critical component of the draft local plan and plays a key role in translating national housing policies and housing supply responses to the local level. It informs the policies and objectives of the local plan and provides details in relation to housing provision and its location and requirements for different house types, sizes and tenures and the requirements for residential zoned land. This policy is in line with national planning policy, specifically the NPPF?s aim to achieve sustainable development by providing a robust evidence base to inform decision-making.

It is considered that this policy is in line with national planning policy, specifically the NPPF?s aim to build a strong, competitive economy. It is further believed that the current draft policy objectives will allow for the proposed masterplan and the overall area of designated land at Fiddlers Ferry to unlock its potential socio-economic benefits, not only for Fiddlers Ferry [landbank] but also the wider Warrington area by providing a framework and linkages for employment development supported with a mix of alternative land uses such as residential and recreation.

This policy is in line with national planning policy, specifically the NPPF?s aim to ensure the viability of town centres. The local centres designated at Fiddlers Ferry will play an important role in delivering sustainable neighbourhood facilities within the masterplan area of the former power station.

The extent of green belt release identified in Policy GB1 and the revised Green Belt boundaries are sound, in terms of being Justified by reference to the underlying Green Belt evidence base which includes robust options and green belt assessment. The exceptional circumstances referred to at 10.4.10 in relation to the Fiddlers Ferry Opportunity Site are fully detailed in the evidence base (including the Green Belt Assessment - Fiddlers Ferry - April 2021). The extent of release is therefore supported in light of the specific sites included as being Positively Prepared, Justified by reference to robust assessment and Effective.

SSE welcomes the opportunity for the Fiddlers Ferry masterplan to positively contribute towards this by making provision for public transport and active travel links to the town centre as the areas primary cultural and retail hub. This policy is in line with national planning policy, specifically the NPPF?s aim to achieve sustainable development and ensuring the viability of town centres.

SSE welcomes the opportunity for the Fiddlers Ferry masterplan to positively contribute towards this through provision to upgrade active travel links connecting it to Warrington Town Centre, the Mersey river corridor, Widnes Waterfront in Halton and linking its employment and residential centres to neighbouring communities. This policy is in line with national planning policy.

SSE supports this policy in principle.

This policy is in line with national planning policy.

SSE welcomes the opportunity for the Fiddlers Ferry masterplan to positively contribute towards Community Facilities through the identification of land two new local centres, one new primary school and three new parks which will provide public access to the impressive Mersey estuary. This policy is in line with national planning policy.

This policy sets out how sufficient and appropriate infrastructure can be delivered. The provision of appropriate infrastructure is also essential to Warrington?s continued growth which underpins the local plan development strategy. SSE welcomes the opportunity for the Fiddlers Ferry masterplan to positively contribute towards this.

This policy is in line with national planning policy, specifically the NPPF?s aim to achieve sustainable development.

SSE supports this policy in principle with the Local Plan allocating over 50% of the land asset at Fiddlers Ferry to new parkland space which will deliver a major new green infrastructure asset with public access to the Mersey riverside and improved links to the Transpennine Trail and the St Helen?s Canal.

SSE is in support of this policy and the Fiddlers Ferry Regeneration Vision will play its part in allocating extensive new public parkland assets for the Borough.

SSE welcomes the opportunity for the Fiddlers Ferry masterplan to positively contribute towards policy requirements. This policy is in line with the NPPF Para 98.

SSE welcomes the opportunity for the Fiddlers Ferry masterplan to positively contribute towards this Policy. The Fiddlers Ferry masterplan is anticipated to be in line with the design principles and standards set out within the draft local plan and national planning policy.

The release of the Fiddlers Ferry site for redevelopment supports this overarching objective given that the site is brownfield in nature and its remediation and re-use will see the transformation of its licensed network of ash deposit facilities at the site into new housing and parkland uses fully consistent with NPPW Para 8.

Given the industrial legacy of the Fiddlers Ferry site, SSE welcomes the aftercare provisions of the ENV 1 and the emphasis within the policy on beneficial afteruse. The Fiddlers Ferry Masterplan delivers on this requirement and will be fully aligned to NPPW Para 8 and the provisions of ENV6.

The Fiddlers Ferry Regeneration proposals have been fully assessed within the Local Plan?s Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) and SSE fully supports ENV2 with its strong alignment with the NPPF and the accompanying ?Planning Guidance on Flood Risk and Coastal Change?.

Whilst welcoming the principle of this policy SSE would request that Figure 14 be amended. It is understood that these are broad brush illustrations of sand and gravel deposits within the Borough but given the strategic contribution of the redevelopment of the Fiddlers Ferry site in its entirety, its inclusion within a safeguarding area in this Figure 14 would appear misleading.

SSE welcomes policy ENV6 with its focus on enhanced biodiversity and geodiversity in restoration projects of former waste and mineral sites and the alignment of the policy to Para 146 of the NPPF. The Fiddlers Ferry Regeneration Vision aligns fully with this and will ultimately allocate over 50% of the site to new parkland use.

SSE welcomes the Councils policy and approach to renewable and low carbon energy development within the Borough. The Fiddlers Ferry masterplan has the potential to utilise part of its employment area for innovative low carbon projects which can avail of the site?s proximity to national grid connectivity. Policy ENV7 provides a positive policy context should an opportunity arise in this regard.

The Fiddlers Ferry site allocation MD3 will deliver transformational impacts across its 324 hectares removing a coal powered power station from the skyline and replacing it with a new mixed use development set within an extensive remediated landscape setting, with the potential to provide air quality, visual impact, biodiversity, habitat development and general amenity net benefits.

SSE welcomes the inclusion of site allocation MD3 within the Local Plan. The combination of site specific technical assessment and options analysis, green belt assessment and the specific requirements of MD3 and the Appendix 1 Trajectory demonstrate that the allocation of the Fiddlers Ferry Opportunity Site is justified as an appropriate approach, likely to be effective in meeting needs consistent with national policy and therefore sound. SSE is keen to restate its commitment to the delivery of site MD3 (Fiddlers Ferry) and is confident that the requested Development Framework, the demolition of the power station and the initial required infrastructure requirements to allow a phase one development to commence on site by 2025/26 in line with the Local Plan Trajectory, can be delivered.