The loss of Green Belt has not been properly justified. The existing Green Belt boundary was confirmed only 7 years ago in a plan that was supposed to be good for 20 years. The Council should take the precaution of looking more carefully at brownfield sites before releasing Green Belt for development. The environmental and ecological impact of the loss of Green Belt has not been properly assessed in the revised plan.

The housing target (816dpa) is calculated on a historic, out of date formula which predates and therefore takes no account of the negative effects on housing calculations caused by Brexit, falling national fertility rates, and the pandemic which will all result in a decline in the calculation formula numbers adopted in the National Planning Policy Framework. Over the last 10 years the average build rate in Warrington has been 586 and Warrington?s own Housing Strategy 2018-2028, written before the start of the pandemic in 2018, called for a housing target of 586. The government have already hinted that the housing calculation formula used to calculate the 816 figure may have to be revisited. A reduction in the housing figures may negate the need to build on Green Belt at all.

The infrastructure required to support the proposed development is wholly inadequate. The present road and bridge infrastructure already struggles to cope with the present demands placed upon it and could not possibly cope with introduction of thousands of additional vehicles caused by the building of up to 4200 new homes and the proposed commercial development at 6/56 in Appleton Thorn. There is no new route into town from the south east and the plan still relies upon 3 Victorian swing bridges over the ship canal and inadequate single track crossings of the Bridgewater Canal.

The proposed development would introduce 4200 car dependant homes as well as a substantial number of commercial vehicles which, would significantly worsen the air quality in south Warrington. Warrington declared a Climate emergency in June 2019 and Green Energy Strategy in September 2019, yet does not appear to have moved forward in its stated aims. In order to make its ?fair share? to lower carbon emissions Warrington will have to take a wide range of measures to reduce fossil fuel use and move away from plans to increase car use on already congested roads. 145 people a year die prematurely in Warrington due to conditions linked to poor air quality alone.

A Public Enquiry held in 2006 determined that there was no justification for building housing on that site citing damage to the local ecology and wildlife, issues with drainage and propensity for flooding, damage to the rurality of the area and enjoyment experienced by people using the TPT and Bridgewater Canal and towpath in a truly rural setting. Nothing has changed since then.