The update comes as plans to close one are rubber-stamped
Stockton Heath community recycling centre
Homes England has provided an update on a planned new recycling centre in south Warrington. At its meeting on Wednesday, Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet approved the closure of Stockton Heath community recycling centre (CRC) from January 31, 2027.
The site has been earmarked for closure as part of the Labour-run council’s cost-cutting proposals. Warrington’s three CRCs are located in Stockton Heath, on Sandy Lane, Gatewarth, on Barnard Street, and Woolston, on New Cut Lane.
The council has previously said there is a ‘requirement’ in the South East Warrington Urban Extension Local Plan allocation policy for the development to provide land for a new waste facility. During the meeting, Cllr John Kerr-Brown, cabinet member for housing services and licensing, confirmed the council is in ongoing discussions with Homes England over the allocation of land to support a new community recycling centre.
However, he stated there is no ‘current funding’ to support this or a timescale on the delivery. “There’s a funding issue that we need to look at,” he added. “Homes England have allocated a plot of land but that is still in open discussion.”
Homes England has issued a statement.
A spokesperson said: “We have worked with Warrington Borough Council to prepare the development framework for the South East Warrington Urban Extension, which accommodates a new waste recycling centre within the site. Plans for a new facility would be led by Warrington Borough Council. The terms for land or funding contributions from Homes England are yet to be agreed.”
The South East Warrington Development Framework sets out the overarching principles for how the site will be developed. It is being prepared in stages, with parts one to four proposed for agreement at the council’s October cabinet meeting. Preparation of a final part, part five, will follow at a later date.
Allowance for a new waste recycling centre plot has been included in the development framework parts one to four, in line with adopted Local Plan policy and following advice from council officers. An ‘indicative location’ for the facility has been agreed with officers and identified within the framework plans.
Depending on the council having ‘finalised’ its funding and delivery strategy for a new waste recycling centre, and agreement of terms for provision of proportionate land or funding contributions, further details could be included in development framework part five, or otherwise within subsequent planning stages for the scheme.
It has been highlighted that as any new waste recycling centre would serve a wider catchment area than the South East Warrington site alone, the council will lead on decisions about funding, delivery and operation of any new facility.
