Housing to ‘revitalise’ Widnes industrial zone
PLANS to replace the Golden Triangle industrial estate with a major housing development will help revitalise ‘the whole of Widnes’, the local council has said.
Halton Council has now published outline plans for up to 86 homes on sites in Foundry Lane in what will form the first phase of the regeneration of the entire area.
The plans would involve building a combination of houses and flats on sites previously occupied by Tarmac and Stobart on the banks of Ditton Brook.
In its plans, the council said: “It is anticipated that the proposed development will have a positive physical regenerative impact in terms of contribution and stimulus the site makes to the wider area.”
The wider industrial estate, which suffered a massive fire in June 2019, is expected to be replaced by around 360 homes in total, with the Foundry Lane sites the first of three phases.
The council’s planning statement added: “An increase in the number of houses will counter population decline, helping to support the provision of local facilities, such as the school, shops and services.
“This will not only help the revitalisation and regeneration of Halebank, but it will also contribute to the revitalisation of the whole of Widnes.”
The plans published this week are only an outline of the proposed development, and another application will be needed before the details can be confirmed, including the exact number of homes.
Residents can comment on the outline plans until August 6 and Halton council’s planning committee is expected to make a decision on the proposals at the beginning of October.