On Thursday 22nd February during Business Questions to the Leader of the House of Commons, Andy Carter MP raised concerns over the lack of GP surgeries for new housing developments in Warrington South, and called for a parliamentary debate to ensure local councils build additional healthcare infrastructure alongside new houses.
The MP told the Commons that the new developments in Appleton Cross and Omega are putting pressure on existing GP surgeries and, despite planning permission having been given for new healthcare facilities to go ahead, these have not yet materialised.
Andy Carter MP asked the Leader of the House:
Homeowners on two recently built housing developments in my constituency were promised a GP surgery. The development at Appleton Cross has been completely finished and the Section 106 money paid across, but there is no GP surgery. That is putting extreme pressure on the existing facilities that are provided elsewhere in Warrington South.
May I ask the Leader of the House for a debate in Government time to look at how we can ensure that, when planning permission is agreed and the infrastructure that is needed to go with it is agreed, the local authority responsible for approving that planning permission ensures that the GP surgeries are delivered as required?
Responding, Penny Mordaunt MP said:
I thank [Andy Carter] for raising the matter on behalf of his constituents. He will know that in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 we introduced powers to create a new infrastructure levy to replace the existing system of developer contributions. It aims to generate more funding for infrastructure such as he mentions – GP surgeries and shops, for example – to mitigate the impact of new developments and ensure that the needs of new people moving into the area and increasing the population size are served.
We have committed to further consult on the design of the levy before drafting regulations. He may wish to raise the matter directly with the Secretary of State on 4 March [Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Questions in the House of Commons].
Commenting afterwards, Andy Carter MP said:
While I welcome new brownfield developments to meet our housing needs in Warrington South, this cannot come at the expense of the infrastructure needed to support it. New homeowners need to be sure they can rely on nearby GP surgeries, school places and parking, but Warrington Borough Council are failing to ensure these needs are met.
The money is available for a new GP surgery to support the new housing estate at Appleton Cross, but if planning permission for this facility expires that money will go to waste. It’s unsurprising so few Warrington residents have confidence in our Local Plan if it doesn’t to deliver the appropriate infrastructure needed alongside new homes. The Council need to get a move on, until they do I will continue to take this up further with the Housing Secretary.
The Warrington South MP has also written to the District Valuer to urge progress on financial agreements and recently met with Homes England, who own the land at Appleton Cross, to seek urgent movement with a new planning application.
