WARRINGTON has made it into the top 10 of the most successful ‘cities’ in the country.

The Centre for Cities has published its annual health check of UK cities today and puts Warrington as one of the few places to grow in the list.

Warrington is classed as a city in the report, which compares the 64 biggest places in the UK, due to its size.

Clr Terry O’Neill, leader of Warrington Borough Council, said: “Today’s report is very, very good news. Warrington continues to lead and set the pace for the north west region and indeed the rest of the UK.

“We have set in place a robust framework in order to protect, maintain and further grow the borough economy; Warrington Means Business.

“Last year alone we announced regeneration projects totalling more than £450 million in value of which over £210 million is committed and under way.

“Last week’s go-ahead for a £10 million University Technical College, to be built by the University of Chester, will strengthen, build and maintain our nuclear and engineering skills for the future and kick start the £190 million Stadium Quarter project.”

Steve Park, managing director, Warrington & Co., Warrington’s Partnership for growth, said: “The Warrington economy is consistently outperforming that of most of the UK. We are delighted that this is yet another endorsement of our economic strength.

“2014 is a very exciting year for the town. Plans continue to move forward at considerable pace in relation to the physical regeneration of the town centre.”

Warrington has jumped from 54th place in 2008-09, 25th (2009-2012) and is now ranked 10th (2009 -13).

This ranking is based on how Warrington has performed against the number of claimants to estimated changes in jobs; work-place weekly wages; the size of the business base and house values.

Warrington is ranked

  •  Fifth in the top 10 cities with the highest proportion of private sector employment - ratio of private sector to public sector employment
  •  Seventh highest in terms of both employment rates and private sector jobs growth. Warrington is placed even higher at 4th in terms of the ratio of private sector to public sector employment
  •  Tenth in terms of highest weekly earnings. Average earnings at £507 per week
  •  Tenth in terms of private and public sector jobs growth with a 2.7 per cent increase
  • The borough has the fourth highest jobs growth in the UK (at 4.5 per cent - only bettered by Edinburgh, Brighton and London).

Here is the top 10 in full:

London
Edinburgh
Birmingham
Manchester
Liverpool
Nottingham
Brighton
Aberdeen
Leeds
Warrington

And the bottom 10:

Hull
Mansfield
Southampton
Bradford
Doncaster
Blackpool
Northampton
Sheffield
Glasgow
Bristol.