9 Winsford

9 Winsford

National policy

9.1 Local Plans should promote sustainable patterns of development including making effective use of land in urban areas (NPPF, paragraph 11) and align growth and infrastructure. 

9.2 Planning policies should set out a clear economic vision and strategy which positively and proactively encourages sustainable economic growth (NPPF, paragraph 86a) and should support the role that town centres play at the heart of local communities by taking a positive approach to their growth, management and adaptation (NPPF, paragraph 90).

Evidence base

Key issues

  • Winsford is one of the borough’s four main urban areas. Regeneration of the town centre and improvements to open space are key priorities. The Places Background Paper provides a socio-economic profile of Winsford.
  • The Winsford Neighbourhood Plan identifies the land allocations to deliver the current Local Plan's housing requirement in this spatial area. Some of the larger housing allocations are now complete or under construction.
  • Station Quarter - The Local Plan (Part One) and the Neighbourhood Plan both allocate land at Winsford Station Quarter for development of around 1,000 dwellings. The Winsford Station Quarter Development Brief was endorsed by the Council in March 2016 and establishes principles for the development of this area. The aim is to ensure that a comprehensive approach to development of this area is achieved, maximising the community benefits identified in the neighbourhood plan.
  • The Employment Areas Survey (2024) shows that the 3rd largest employment area in the borough is located in Winsford. Winsford Industrial Estate (Road One-Five) is approximately 118 hectares and new development has taken place to the north of Road One which includes a service station, food outlets and additional employment space.  
  • Winsford lacks provision of dedicated office parks – the employment areas identified provide for a mix of employment types, mainly general industrial and warehousing/distribution uses with ancillary offices.
  • Winsford has a relatively low amount of vacant land within the established employment areas. However, the employment area boundaries for Winsford do not include the undeveloped local plan and neighbourhood plan employment land allocations at Winsford Industrial Estate which would provide additional capacity. 
  • Winsford is unconstrained by Green Belt, however flood risk (including areas of high chance of surface water flooding), former salt mine workings are identified constraints. 
  • Current regeneration projects include Winsford Town Centre, Winsford Gateway, Winsford Waterfront, Knights Grange, enhancing the old High Street and provision of leisure routes around Bottom Flash.
  • Improvements to transport links to the station/town centre and the wider public transport network and retain more rigorous parking standards for the Winsford parking zone in line with the Parking Standards SPD.

Map 9.1 Winsford settlement area and key constraints (View full image)

Map of Winsford settlement highlighting flood risk, conservation areas, open spaces, local wildlife, and SSSI sites.

Current adopted policy

Local Plan

Policy reference

Policy summary

Local Plan (Part One)

STRAT 6 Winsford

Supports regeneration of the town and makes provision for 3,500 new dwellings and 35ha of additional land for business and industrial development.
Key proposals include: the Station Quarter Urban Extension; re-modelling of the town centre to provide enhanced local shopping and leisure facilities; significant improvements to playing pitches, green space and leisure facilities.

Local Plan (Part Two)

W 1 Winsford settlement area

Defines the settlement boundary of Winsford and sets out the principles for development within it.

Local Plan (Part Two)

W 2 Employment land provision in Winsford

Lists the employment allocations for Winsford and the criteria the development of each should have regard to.

Local Plan (Part Two)

T
1 Local road network improvement schemes

Identifies improvements to the link between Winsford/Middlewich and the M6 Junction 18 as a priority local road network scheme.

Suggested policy approach

9.3 The suggested policy approach is to combine Local Plan (Part One) policy STRAT 6 with Local Plan (Part Two) policies W 1 and W 2, as the overarching and locally distinct policy for Winsford but update as needed to reflect allocations (some formerly in the Winsford Neighbourhood Plan) that have been completed and/or require a new approach.

9.4 The approach to level of development will depend on spatial strategy option chosen but will seek to maximise housing and other development on previously developed land.  Higher densities may be supported in appropriate locations. Options and broad locations for potential growth are set out in SS 5 ‘Spatial strategy options’. The policy approach will identify key locations for new housing and employment development in Winsford, in line with the chosen option. This may mean areas outside of the existing settlement are explored for large-scale industrial use, or new residential development.

9.5 The Station Quarter allocation (formerly allocated through the Winsford Neighbourhood Plan) will be retained and updated to reflect any updates to the Winsford Station Quarter Development Brief. 

9.6 Alongside locations for new large-scale industrial/warehousing development, linked to current Local Plan (Part One) policy STRAT 2, other smaller local employment areas remain important to the overall mix of land and premises, to provide for a wide range of sizes and types of business.

9.7 Current Local Plan (Part One) policies STRAT 10 and Local Plan (Part Two) policies T1 Local road network improvement schemes (A54-M6 corridor) and T3 Railway Stations have policies and proposals that impact Winsford. Future policies in the Winsford section and/or transport section will need to reflect updated proposals for transport (Winsford Transport Strategy/Neighbourhood Plan).  

9.8 The Parking Standards SPD (February 2022) sets more rigorous parking standards for areas of high demand and public transport accessibility. The standard is applied to Winsford as a key town centre where there is a concentration of services, an increased number of travel options and lower levels of car ownership.

WI 1

Winsford

The suggested policy approach is to reflect the objectives and projects identified in the Winsford Neighbourhood Plan and Winsford Development Framework recognising the town’s potential to reuse/redevelop vacant or redundant sites, with a focus on regeneration of the town centre and old High Street, promoting opportunities for town centre living, improvements to open space, the waterfront and leisure routes and improving accessibility to the railway station. 

The new Local Plan will set out the level and location of new development. 

The overall content of Local Plan (Part One) policy STRAT 6 and Local Plan (Part Two) policy W 1, relating to development in Winsford, will be retained along with the Station Quarter allocation (allocated through the Winsford Neighbourhood Plan), promoting good design and accessibility, which is also proposed to be retained.  

Key sites and land allocations will be identified to deliver strategic development needs for new housing and employment development (linked to 5 ‘Spatial strategy’ of the new Local Plan). Local Plan (Part Two) policies W 1 and W 2 will be retained accordingly and updated as needed to reflect allocations that have been completed and/ or require a new approach, and either retain, replace or identify new employment land allocations to meet borough wide needs. 

Woodford Park

Woodford Park is an established employment area and will be safeguarded to meet a range of sizes and types of small-medium business needs. Additional growth areas will be explored around north and west of Woodford Park for a mix of uses.

Key allocations/ policies

  • Station Quarter
  • Town centre regeneration
  • Old High Street
  • Winsford Industrial Estate
  • Winsford Gateway
  • Winsford Waterfront
  • Woodford Park
  • Improvements to open/green space/leisure routes with enhanced access to The Flashes and River Weaver
  • Improved accessibility to the railway station

Other sites to be identified will depend on the chosen spatial strategy.

Transport and infrastructure

Subject to TA 2 ‘Key local transport infrastructure priorities’ the suggested policy approach will identify the key transport priorities for Winsford, which may include:

  • Improving journey times between Winsford/Middlewich and link to M6
  • Safeguarding land between A54 Winsford Railway Station to Stanthorne in Winsford for road/junction improvements
  • Improvements around Winsford rail station

Appropriate provision should be made for access and parking in line with a review of parking standards and parking zones as set out in TA 1 ‘Transport and accessibility’, where there is a concentration of services, increased sustainable transport options and lower levels of car ownership.

Question WI 1

Do you agree with the suggested policy approach towards Winsford, as set out in WI 1 ‘Winsford’ above? If not please suggest how it could be amended?

Question WI 2

Do you have any comments on the suggested allocations/sites?

Question WI 3

Do you have any views on how the aspirations of the Winsford Development Framework should be reflected through the new Local Plan?

Question WI 4

Are there any infrastructure requirements required to support the suggested policy approach?

WI 2

Winsford Industrial Estate

Winsford Industrial Estate is a strategic employment location for a range of sizes and types of business falling in use classes E(g), B2 and B8. The refurbishment of premises for continued employment use will be supported. Land within Winsford Industrial Estate will be retained to meet the needs for small, medium and larger enterprises, and expansions needs for specific employers. 

Additional growth areas will be explored around the east and north of Winsford Industrial Estate to meet large scale industrial, warehouse and distribution needs. These areas would be protected from alternative forms of development. 

Development proposals for B2/B8 uses should incorporate sufficient space for lorry parking for their anticipated use. The design and location of parking and servicing should minimise visual impact on the street scene.

Development must mark the ‘gateway’ into Winsford through appropriately high quality development.

Question WI 5

Do you agree with the suggested policy approach towards Winsford Industrial Estate, as set out in WI 2 ‘Winsford Industrial Estate’ above? If not please suggest how it could be amended?