Staff fear for jobs after proposal submitted for housing and landscaping

THE future of a Walton nursery is uncertain as plans have been put forward to build homes on its site and sell the business.

Springbrook Landscapes, off Chester Road, will make way for 11 four and five bed homes under a scheme put forward by De Vere Group, who own the land.

A spokesman for De Vere said: “The De Vere Group has put in a planning application for residential properties on the Springbrook Landscapes site.

“We will also be looking to sell Springbrook Landscapes in the course of the summer.”

And the news has left customers concerned.

One customer, who did not want to be named, said: “There are a lot of long term workers, some who have been there for many years. They have been told the application had been put in and the land is being sold. They have also been told they are under risk of redundancy.”

It is understood there are around 13 people who work for the company both on the site and as part of its contracts elsewhere.

The plans will also see the former Jahan restaurant on the edge of the site turned into three residential properties.

Plans for homes were initially put forward on the site as part of the scheme to build homes on the former Greenalls distillery on Wilderspool Causeway but were refused in 2007 as they were surplus to housing need.

This project now before Warrington Borough Council also allows for landscaping between the site and current properties on Hillcliffe Road.

When the Warrington Guardian contacted Springbrook it was referred on to De Vere Group.