The development of green belt land and out of town areas does not comply with many of the stated goals such as reducing the dependance on cars, improving air quality, preserving leisure areas to promote improved mental health, increasing the quality of life of more deprived inner town areas, creating a more environmentally friendly transport system that is inclusive of cycling wlaking and public transport.
The plan doesn't address key goals of development of the town centre that would attract investment, create high-value employment, and create an attractive proposition for town centre living using brownfield and rezoned sites that will promote improved health through less reliance on cars.
The plan doesn't address the congestion on all parts of the A49, that cause pollution, and waste energy and people's time, leading to a poorer quality of life.
The plan doesn't add any detailed proposals on how to alleviate the congestion in South Warrington due to limited, outdated, poorly maintained, and in some cases dangerous, e.g. the blind single lane crossing of Bridgewater Canal on Red Lane Walton, crossings of the Manchester Ship and Bridewater canals.
There is no detailed plan on improvement of infrastructure to cope with increased traffic levels and encourage cycling, walking and use of public transport, or how the charging requirements for the increasing proportion of electric cars will be handled.
There is an abscence of policies to address the new context of the covid and post-covid era, where large shopping centres have lost anchor tenants and have high vacancy rates. Specifically, the Golden Square and surrounding area is a primary example and this whole inner town area could be redeveloped to be mixed Residential, retail and commercial. This would create a true heart to the town and if developed sympathetically can be a experiential destination, attracting shoppers, leisure visitors, and tourists, bringing revenue that would otherwise go to Chester, Liverpool, Manchester and other local towns such as Altrincham, Knutsford, and Nantwich.