Funding threat to £1bn business park

Jul 23 2008 by Alex Turner, Liverpool Daily Post

Mr Broomhead remains a key supporter of the project, although he expressed concern about the plans for the site as they stand but stopped short of proscribing an alternative plan.

“The NWDA board has discuss-ed the very nature of the site, the masterplan for Omega,” he said. “We are committed to retaining this as a key strategic employ-ment site. We need to sit down with the partners to have a dis-cussion of the overall plan. It’s hard to say if it will be scaled down, it’s up to the partners.”

While Miller Developments accepts changes could be neces-sary, they played down concerns.

Nick Harris, of Miller and Omega Warrington, argued developments of this scale and duration were always subject to changes – and Omega was no different.

He said: “It was al-ways understood and agreed long-term proposals would need to be flexible, and that it would be necessary to review these later phases in the light of market con-ditions and the wider policy con-text. This will need to be under-taken at appropriate stages throughout the programme in partnership with key regional and local stakeholders.

“As a result, Miller is working with a number of stakeholders including the NWDA, English Partnerships and Warrington Borough Council on a range of options for the site.

He added: “It is too early in the process to say exactly where the masterplan will end up. Omega Warrington remains committed to moving forward with a deliv-erable masterplan. The vision for Omega remains very much the same – to be the number one des-tination in the region and globally ‘best in class’.”

The NWDA hopes to meet with the partners in the coming weeks to discuss the plans for phase three and beyond.

Liverpool and Man- chester councils were originally objectors to the scheme, but later withdrew their opposition.

OPINION: PAGE 10

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