A mixed-use local centre opportunity in South Warrington
The Appleton Cross Local Centre Site is located within South Warrington. The Site is not located within the Green Belt and whilst being surrounded by Homes England’s wider land holdings, recently allocated within the Warrington Local Plan as the South East Warrington Urban Extension (SEWUE), it does not form part of this allocation. The SEWUE is Policy MD2 in The Warrington Local Plan 2021/22 2038/39,which was formally adopted in December 2023. Whilst located outside of the SEWUE allocation boundary, the Site is situated in the centre of the wider allocation area and is irregular in shape. It extends to 4.84 acres (1.96 ha) and is accessed via Braeburn Drive to the northwest of the Site. Braeburn Drive comprises two access points to the Site – one to the east and one to the south. Both access points have been constructed by Barratt David Wilson (BDW). The vision for Appleton Cross is to deliver a Local Centre to serve the local community, which will include a health centre as an anchor alongside other complimentary uses. The site is of strategic importance to Homes England, being surrounded by Homes England’s wider land holdings which have recently been allocated within the Warrington Local Plan as the SEWUE. In addition to meeting existing community needs, notably for health care facilities, the site will also provide some capacity to deal with the health requirements from the SEWUE allocation. It will also demonstrate Homes England’s commitment to delivery of social infrastructure, to set positive foundations for future phases of residential and infrastructure delivery within the SEWUE. Homes England is looking for a comprehensive solution to the development of the Site and invite interest and proposals from developers that can accommodation a range of end users, and who can demonstrate that they will deliver the Site, subject to securing an appropriate planning permission within an agreed timeframe.