PLANS for a 700-space car storage facility in Thelwall have been refused again by Warrington Borough Council.

The site is currently occupied by the former Caddick’s Clematis Nursery and Hale Carpets buildings, with plans aiming to transform the land into a long-stay car park for guests at the Clayton Hotel in Manchester Airport.

This would see customers' cars moved from the Hotel to the Lymm Road site between 7pm and 7am, while the car owners fly out on holiday.

But the council cited unfit green belt development as part of its reasoning for refusing permission.

In its decision notice, Warrington Borough Council said: “The proposed development would be inappropriate on green belt as the impacts of the proposals would result in significant harm to openness and permanence, due to the level of car parking and hard surfacing.”

The council has also said the development conflicts with their attempts to combat climate change and reduce travel by car.

“The proposals by reason of the scale of operation and distance from Manchester Airport and associated hotels would result in significant car-based movements and operations,” the notice reads.

“This would be contrary to the aims and objectives of the council which seeks to reduce car-based travel and meet the challenge of climate change and progress to a low-carbon infrastructure.”

The planning department also added that plans to resurface the site would present an unacceptable risk of pollution to water quality, as it is likely that ground water would be contaminated from oil and fuel run-off from cars.

The notice concludes by stating: “The proposal would not improve the economic, social and environmental conditions of the area, nor does it comply with the development plan and therefore does not comprise sustainable development.”

Plans for the car park include an assault course and a dog walking area and owner Mark Doubleday said his plan was not developing the green belt.

READ MORE> Developer argues car park plan should be passed

Wrangles over planning permission have been going on for more than a year, with the council successfully obtaining an injunction against Cheshire Airport Parking Ltd to protect development on the site in November last year.

This was after it was discovered that cars were already being parked there, despite permission not being granted.