• [Liverpool Echo Icon]
• News
• Liverpool News
• Runcorn

Safety concerns raised for people living near scrapped new community

MP says she wants access to the findings of a public inquiry that was largely held in private

[An aerial view of Heath Business and Technical Park, Runcorn]

View 7 Images

An aerial view of Heath Business and Technical Park, Runcorn(Image: SOG ltd)

Concerns have been raised for the safety of people living in part of Runcorn after a proposed development nearby was cancelled over its proximity to a "critical" chemical plant. Planning permission for the Heath Park Development, once heralded as a modern-day Port Sunlight, was cancelled by Secretary of State Steve Reed following a public inquiry held late last year.

Much of the inquiry was held behind closed doors, with the government citing the sensitivity of safety and security information about hazardous chemical infrastructure at the Runcorn Chemicals Complex, which is around 1km from the proposed site. That facility is critical to the UK's national infrastructure, producing 98% of the chlorine used in the nation's tap water.

Questions have been raised over the safety of people living between the chemical plant and the proposed Heath Park site in the wake of the inquiry. The areas of Weston Village and Weston Point lie close to the chemical works, with some houses within yards of the boundary fence.

The area includes dense Victorian terraced housing, two primary schools and two nurseries.

Modern-day Port Sunlight

[An aerial view of Heath Business and Technical Park, Runcorn]

View 7 Images

An aerial view of Heath Business and Technical Park, Runcorn(Image: SOG ltd)

The now-cancelled new village of Heath Park, which was to be built on the former site of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in Runcorn, was once called a "beacon project" for the Liverpool City Region by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram. There were plans to build 545 residential units, care facilities, a conference centre, offices and shops. In 2020, owners of the site, SOG Ltd, described the regeneration project as a "21st century version of Port Sunlight".

The proposal continued to generate significant support, and even won two national awards for its masterplan. The plans were approved by Halton Borough Council in May 2024.

But the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) lodged an objection to the plans due to the scheme's proximity to a chemical complex. The HSE makes decisions based on modelling scenarios such as chemical leaks and spills and the potential impact on local residents. However, at a meeting in May 2025, Halton's planning chiefs claimed the HSE's figures were 30 years out of date and accused it of 'stoking fears'.

The application was then called in by then Secretary of State Angela Rayner, citing the HSE's concerns about the site's proximity to Runcorn Chemicals Complex.

[Artist's impression of 'Heath Park' from SOG planning docs ]

View 7 Images

Artist's impression of 'Heath Park' from planning documents

On March 9 2026, the government published a letter detailing the outcome of the inquiry, and the decision reached by the Secretary of State Steve Reed OBE, who agreed with the recommended refusal.

The decision placed 'very substantial weight' on concerns raised about the potential risk to the safety of occupants, the same concerns raised by the HSE.

In April, the ECHO reported that Halton Borough Council had launched a challenge to the Secretary of State's decision in the High Court.

'Potentially fatal'

[A satellite image of Weston, Runcorn, showing Runcorn Chemical Complex (bottom left), Heath Park (far right), Weston Village and Weston Point ]

View 7 Images

A satellite image of Weston, Runcorn, showing Runcorn Chemical Complex (bottom left), Heath Park (far right), Weston Village and Weston Point (Image: Google)

Much of the public inquiry was held in private after it was made subject to an order under Section 321 of the Town and Country Planning Act.

Section 321 allows the Secretary of State to order that evidence at a planning inquiry be heard in private if they consider that evidence to disclose matters of national security or the security of a premises or property, and that public disclosure of that information would be contrary to the national interest.

But information publicly available via the HSE's website warns of the consequences of a major incident at the chemical works.

[The INEOS Inovyn plant in Weston, Runcorn ]

View 7 Images

The INEOS Inovyn plant in Weston, Runcorn (Image: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Information published following a site visit in 2023 warns that an accident at the INEOS Inovyn site may produce a toxic gas cloud or smoke plume, or a "drifting cloud of flammable gas" that "may ignite".

The HSE report adds: "Fires may generate smoke clouds which may lead to breathing difficulties and deposition of soot on property and vegetation."

The HSE warns that the consequences of a major accident are "potential for burns to body" that would be "possibly life threatening", and that gas could be "potentially fatal if inhaled".

A spokesperson for INEOS told the ECHO the site "operates under some of the most stringent process and personal safety regulations in the UK" and that the firm has "made significant investment in its technology and operations resulting in industry-leading standards of safety and reliability."

Halton Borough Council described the Secretary of State's decision to cancel the development as being a "fundamental" matter in efforts to regenerate Runcorn.

A spokesperson for the council said: "For the Council, this issue extends far beyond the decision on Heath Park. It is a fundamental matter of safeguarding Halton's long-term regeneration ambitions, with growth, housing, and regeneration forming the core elements needed to drive prosperity and meet the needs and aspirations of the borough and its communities."

The government has set the council a target of building 471 new homes each year over the next 20 years, with land needed for 9,420 homes over the next two decades. The council plans to build these homes on brownfield sites close to industrial areas, and says it has developed "a robust, well-established, and independently examined risk policy" to ensure that risks to public health are "accurately assessed".

[Silver Jubilee Bridge between Runcorn and Widnes]

View 7 Images

Silver Jubilee Bridge between Runcorn and Widnes (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)

The council said it takes public safety "extremely seriously" but "takes a different view" to the HSE on "how much low-level risk to public safety can reasonably be accepted and believes sometimes community needs outweigh low level safety risks."

The council claimed the HSE relied on information that was out of date. A spokesperson added: "The Council further contends that the Secretary of State was wrong to discredit its local plan policy on public safety and its evidential basis - which would have represented the best available evidence to the Inquiry.

"The Council remains keen to work with HSE to find a way forward but will continue to robustly defend its risk-based planning policy. Failure to do so would, in effect, concede the release of green belt land to meet future development needs. This would significantly limit regeneration opportunities for residents and communities, with resulting negative impacts on jobs, housing, skills, and economic growth.

"Some are questioning whether taking this legal action is the right thing to do the Council believes that it is and is committed to continuing to challenge the current decision."

'Wider questions of public safety'

[The Silver Jubilee Bridge, Runcorn]

View 7 Images

The Silver Jubilee Bridge, Runcorn (Image: Ryan Jenkinson/Getty Images)

Local MP Sarah Pochin said the issues raised during the Heath Park inquiry "appear to extend beyond a single development site and touch on wider questions of public safety and community confidence."

She added: "If information exists that could affect local residents, it is important that those implications are properly understood."

Ms Pochin's office wrote to the Ministry of Housing on April 28 requesting her name be added to the list of those permitted access to the confidential information from the hearing.

The ECHO understands this request was acknowledged on May 7, but that the request has not yet been approved.

Ms Pochin said: "As the local Member of Parliament, I believe I should be able to review the evidence for myself and engage directly with the relevant authorities on behalf of my constituents."

She added: "Where issues of public safety and significant local concern are involved, I do not believe it is unreasonable for the local Member of Parliament to expect a clear and timely response."

The ECHO approached the Ministry for comment.

A spokesperson for INEOS said: "The INEOS Inovyn site at Runcorn is a critical part of the UK's national infrastructure, producing the chlorine that ensures approximately 98% of the country's tap water is clean and safe to drink.

"The site is classified as a top-tier COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) facility and operates under some of the most stringent process and personal safety regulations in the UK. Since acquiring the site in 2001, INEOS has made significant investment in its technology and operations, resulting in industry-leading standards of safety and reliability.

"Decisions regarding residential developments in the vicinity of the site are matters for the relevant planning authorities. INEOS' responsibility remains unchanged: to operate the Runcorn facility safely, reliably and in full compliance with all regulatory requirements. We will continue to maintain world-class standards irrespective of planning outcomes."

A spokesperson for the HSE said: "We provide statutory advice on planning applications when a proposed development falls within consultation zones near sites which are classified as major hazards - this classification is based on the potential for harm in the unlikely event of a significant industrial incident.

"Our evidence to the Secretary of State about the proposed development took into account the potential impact any major industrial incident would have on a much larger population.

"The advice we provided is publicly available and all operators of major hazard sites must by law report regularly to the local community."

The ECHO approached other firms operating at the complex for comment.

[Liverpool Echo Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Liverpool Echo as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.