Planning problems at £120m science park labelled a fiasco
A local MP has stepped into the row surrounding a science park run by the University of Chester.
The £120m park is facing major problems after councillors refused it retrospective planning permission.
Cheshire West and Chester Council’s planning committee voted to refuse a retrospective change of use application for six buildings on the Thornton Science Park.
The vote came after the Health and Safety Executive ruled the nearby location of the Stanlow Oil Refinery put students and staff at too much risk.
The park, which was opened in 2014, is now facing an uncertain future.
The university has said it will be appealing to the Secretary of State against the decision.
Meanwhile, the local MP Justin Madders has labelled the situation a fiasco.
The university said: “When the university acquired Thornton Science Park, it received professional advice from Cheshire West and Chester’s planning officers that it would not require planning permission for change of use.
“This was because the previous owners, Shell, had been granted a special kind of planning permission which recognised the unique, or ‘sui generis’, nature of the site, catering for research and development alongside industry.”
The university added: “Thornton Science Park is too important for the university, the wider region and national commercial interests to accept the council’s decision without challenging it.
“The university is disappointed with the council’s decision but recognises that the planning application is just the beginning of the process and the university is appealing to the Secretary of State to overturn Cheshire West and Chester Council’s decision.”
Mr Madders, who is MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, is calling for an independent inquiry into the “fiasco”.
He said: “I’m absolutely astonished that we have reached a point where the university is being asked to potentially dismantle a £120 million facility because of something as fundamental as planning permission.
“Most of us wouldn’t consider putting up a conservatory without first checking whether we needed planning consent but it is obvious somewhere along the line the university felt it had the assurances needed to proceed.
“I am appalled that vast sums of public money have been expended on a site which it is now claimed is unsuitable for the purpose of education.”
Mr Madders added: “It’s time that someone completely independent looked at how this fiasco arose and who is responsible for the ludicrous situation we are now in.
“If we can establish exactly what has happened then we can hopefully make sure we are never in this situation again and people will be able to invest with confidence and certainty.”
