THE council is progressing in the work required to reinstate the town's Local Plan Housing target that was removed following a High Court judgement this year.

The first stage concerns the preparation of a strategic housing land availability assessment (SHLAA) to catalogue the potential capacity of sites across the borough to accommodate new homes over the next 15 years.

The council has published its SHLAA in draft form for a six-week consultation period.

The SHLAA is a technical exercise that considers the suitability of all available and potential sites for housing.

The assessment looks at the likelihood of sites coming forward over time, their capacity for residential development and whether there are any constraints on them which would preclude housing being from being developed.

Council leader Terry O'Neill said: "Having an up to date plan is vital for Warrington to be able to plan positively for growth.

"It will enable the council to ensure that new development is directed to the right locations and is designed to the highest standards.

"It will also enable the council to plan for the timely delivery of the social and physical infrastructure necessary to support an increasing population.

"The inclusion of all potential sites in the SHLAA is an excellent and useful exercise but it does not predetermine that planning permission will be granted on those sites."

For further information visit warrington.gov.uk/info/200564/planning_policy/1905/evidence_base.