'Monstrosity' substation gets planning approval

The substation has been designed to provide power to about 850 homes

Councillors have narrowly approved the construction of an electricity substation which one described as a "monstrosity".

The substation in Runcorn, Cheshire, has been designed to provide power to about 850 homes on the Sandymoor South and Wharford Farm estates being built by government agency Homes England.

The agency’s application had been previously criticised with local politicians citing concerns that the substation would impose on existing homes in the area.

Halton Borough Council’s development management committee passed the application by five votes to four.

The developments attached to the substation are part of a wider scheme, which has seen about 1,500 homes either built or proposed.

However, the structure itself will stand in neighbouring Norton, close to existing homes that will not be powered by it, and lead to the loss of green space and trees.

'This stinks'

Councillor Chris Loftus, who opposed the application, told a committee meeting he felt sorry for those living nearby.

"Why should they have to put up with this… monstrosity when they’re not going to have any benefit?” he said.

"To me, this stinks and as far as I’m concerned, there’s no way that we should be allowing this to go on."

Other councillors expressed concerns over the choice of site, which was designated as green space in the authority’s delivery and allocations local plan, a blueprint which sets out the borough’s planning policy up to 2037.

However, officers told the meeting there was enough green space in the local area to compensate for the loss.

They added that a refusal could lead to the council losing a costly planning appeal and the decision being later overturned by a government inspector.

They also advised that members did not have to be constrained by the local plan if they thought there were other factors which warranted approval.

Following lengthy discussions, a motion to back the project was tabled and seconded, before passing.