Cllr Hans Mundry on new HMO rules and bridges in Warrington

THERE'S been a lot happening across Warrington recently, and I wanted to take the opportunity to share a few important updates with you.

First, some positive news on our swing bridges.

Warrington is set to receive Government funding to support the refurbishment of not one, but two of our town’s iconic swing bridges – Northwich Road and Knutsford Road.

This is something we’ve been striving towards for a long time, and after more than a decade of trying to secure funding for one bridge, we now have the opportunity to improve two.

Back in May 2022, the council submitted a pre-submission bid to the Department for Transport for structures funding, with additional support pledged by Peel Ports.

I’m delighted that the DfT has now confirmed Warrington Borough Council will be offered enhanced support.

This is fantastic news for our town and puts us in a strong position as we move to the next stage of the funding process.

If confirmed, this funding will allow us to move ahead with these much-needed refurbishments.

We know how vital these routes are for residents and businesses, so a big part of this will be working closely with our partners to carefully plan traffic mitigation and ensure people can continue to get around while any improvement works take place.

I was also really pleased to see Warrington recently named as one of the best places in England to raise a family, ranking seventh overall in new research.

Data shows our education provision is strong, with the vast majority of schools rated at least good, childcare costs remaining relatively affordable, and our green spaces and attractions giving children plenty of opportunities to play and stay active.

Through our Best Start Local Plan, we’re continuing to support families from pregnancy through to the early years, giving our children the best possible foundations for the future.

We’re making great strides in making Warrington a good place to grow up — and it’s fantastic to see that recognised through this research.

Finally, you may have read about new measures coming into force in September which will give the council stronger controls around Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

The new Article 4 Direction means landlords will need full planning permission before converting family homes into HMOs.

This isn’t about stopping HMOs altogether – they remain an important part of our housing mix – but about protecting neighbourhoods from over-concentration and maintaining the character of our communities - something that we know is important to our residents.

As always, our focus is on building strong, balanced and sustainable neighbourhoods across the whole of Warrington – not just houses, but communities that people are proud to call home.

Cllr Hans Mundry

Leader, Warrington Borough Council