AROUND 4,400 new homes are planned for green belt land in Warrington over the next 15 years as part of the Local Plan.

The Local Plan – which aims to deliver the homes, jobs, supporting infrastructure and community facilities the town needs – was formally adopted as the new development plan for the borough at the full council meeting on Monday.

It aims to deliver a minimum of 14,688 new homes between 2021-22 and 2038-39, equating to 816 per year.

Furthermore, it aims to support Warrington’s ongoing economic success by ensuring provision is made to meet the need for 168 hectares of employment land between 2021-22 and 2038-39.

The plan’s main priority remains to optimise the development potential of the existing urban area, which can accommodate around 10,900 new homes in the plan period. This means green belt land for around 4,400 homes needs to be released for the council to meet its housing requirement.

The total amount of land proposed to be removed from the green belt is 390 hectares – equating to 3.4 per cent of the total amount of green belt land in the borough.

Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet member for environment and public protection, Cllr Hitesh Patel, said: “Our Local Plan will play a hugely important role in shaping Warrington’s future.

“It aims to benefit everyone who lives and works here, driving our growth, guiding development, meeting our housing needs, and supporting jobs – all while protecting the green belt as much as possible.

“This plan has been developed and shaped through extensive consultation and engagement with independent planning inspectors and crucially, the borough’s residents and businesses.

“By working together, I believe we have delivered a plan which is the right fit for Warrington’s future. I’m delighted that the plan has now been approved and can be formally adopted.”