Plans worth £180m for a logistics hub which could create 4,100 jobs have been 'called in' by Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove.
Developer Langtree’s application for Six56 Warrington had been approved by the borough council in March but will now be subject to a planning inquiry.
If given the final go-ahead, the scheme will provide approximately 3.1 million sq ft of new warehousing and distribution space.
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The development has been earmarked for land bounded by junction 20 of the M6 and junction 9 of the M56.
John Downes, group chief executive of Langtree, said: "A review of this nature is not unexpected when set against the scheme’s scale and job-creation impact and I have instructed my team to begin work immediately to prepare the information that the secretary of state and Planning Inspectorate will require.
"Our application is in-line with Warrington’s emerging local plan, which has identified the site as necessary for meeting its statutory employment land obligations.
"We can demonstrate a clear and compelling economic case for the site and, as the economy enters a period of volatility, the ability to deliver job-creation on this scale will be vital to sustaining our communities.
"So, too, will be the fillip it will provide in terms of the rates income generated.
"We’re ready to invest more than £180m in a local supply chain to develop the site which, when completed, will generate more than £216m a year in new economic output.
"Should the scheme be approved it will also generate more than £7m a year in new rates income for the council to invest in vital public services.
"Our focus now is ensuring that the secretary of state has everything required to assess our case thoroughly during the Inquiry and we will then await the decision keenly."
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