en.Wedoany.com Reported - Warrington Borough Council plans to terminate a two-year option agreement held by Wire Regeneration, a joint venture with Langtree, on a site at Wilderspool Causeway.

The option agreement is valid until February 2027. Due to financial constraints and requirements from the government's Best Value inspection, the council, which is winding down its development activities, wishes to terminate the agreement early. This move could open the site to other competitors.

Warrington Borough Council's cabinet will discuss the matter at a meeting on June 8. If cabinet members approve issuing a notice to terminate the option agreement, the council will be solely responsible for the disposal of the site.

According to the option assessment section of the relevant report, terminating the option does not preclude the development of the former bus station land, whether as a trade park or for other uses. The council could choose to sell the site on the open market and develop it subject to obtaining planning permission.

The site was transferred to the council in April 2023 from the municipal transport organization Warrington's Own Buses. At that time, bus station operations moved to Dallam Lane (near the Halliwell Jones Stadium), a project costing £10 million. The relocation of the bus station was intended to make the Wilderspool Causeway site central to the Southern Gateway masterplan, which includes 1,300 homes.

Projects in the Southern Gateway area also include the former Wilderspool rugby ground, the St James office complex (renamed The Causeway in 2025), and the Wharf industrial estate.

Wire Regeneration is currently winding down, involving four work streams. In addition to the Causeway office/digital center, there is a residential project at the rugby ground (known as Bevan Mews). This residential project is expected to be ready for sale this summer once reserved matters are approved, with outline planning permission granted for 160 homes on the 5.5-acre site. The other two projects involve the disposal of sites at Knutsford Road and Chester Road, and exploring the development of a revenue-generating leisure scheme.

The cabinet report indicates that these activities suggest Wire will naturally and appropriately conclude its operations once Bevan Mews is sold and the St James project is completed. A spokesperson for Langtree stated that they continue to work with the council to deliver Wire Regeneration's plans and will discuss with the council any updated priorities arising after the cabinet processes this report.

In May last year, Warrington Borough Council was advised during a Best Value inspection to exit commercial investments and reduce debt. The council has been active in property investment for many years, notably acquiring Birchwood Park in 2017.

At next week's Warrington cabinet meeting, the council is asked to approve the transfer of Local Regeneration Fund monies to Burtonwood & Westbrook Parish Council for the Gorsey Lane Pavilion redevelopment project. This project, originally proposed as a new build facility in the 2021/22 Levelling Up Fund bid, saw plans change due to rising costs. It is now being led by the parish council, as site owner and match funder, for a refurbishment. The total project cost is just under £500,000.

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