Heath Park was once called a “beacon project” for the Liverpool City Region
An artist’s impression of Heath Park in Runcorn(Image: Runcorn Weekly News)
Plans for a “modern-day Port Sunlight” could go before a court after being cancelled over safety concerns. Halton Borough Council has submitted an application for a judicial review of the government’s decision to cancel the Heath Park development.
Heath Park, 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. The plans consisted of 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” — around 1km from one of the UK’s largest chemical production facilities.
Steve Rotheram called the scheme an “inspirational project” for the city region which would drive economic growth. In 2021, Heath Park was promoted to worldwide investors in the UK Government’s Global Investment Atlas, one of just two schemes from the North West and Wales.
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.
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 However, at a meeting in May 2025, Halton’s planning chiefs claimed the HSE’s figures were 30 years out of date and accused it of ‘stoking fears’.
Artist’s impression of ‘Heath Park’ from SOG planning docs(Image: Copyright Unknown)
The application was subsequently called in by then Secretary of State Angela Rayner, citing the HSE’s concerns about the site’s proximity to Runcorn Chemicals Complex, situated about 1km from the development site. A public inquiry was held late last year. Large parts of the public inquiry were held in private, with government citing issues relating to sensitive safety and security information, particularly about hazardous chemical infrastructure at the nearby industrial complex.
On March 9, 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. Although the proposal was found to align with the local development plan overall, the government concluded that safety risks to future residents outweighed the benefits.
The decision placed ‘very substantial weight’ on concerns raised about the potential risk to the safety of occupants, in relation to national planning policy that requires developments to avoid unacceptable safety risks. These are the same concerns raised by the HSE.
Halton Borough Council confirmed to the ECHO that it had now submitted a planning statutory review to the High Court and is awaiting further direction from the court. The process requires permission from the court to proceed, often decided without an initial hearing.
Responding to the government’s decision in March, SOG Ltd Managing Director John Lewis MBE, owner of The Heath Business and Technical Park, said he was disappointed by the refusal, but accepts the government’s position.
Mr Lewis added: “The Secretary of State’s ruling validates the concerns raised by the HSE and it is now a matter for those in authority to inform the people of Runcorn, particularly all those people living in closer proximity to the Runcorn Chemicals Complex than The Heath Business and Technical Park site, about the true risks posed by the chemicals complex, and the effect his decision will potentially have on the value of their properties.”
A spokesperson for the HSE said: “We support the Secretary of State’s decision not to grant planning permission for the Heath Business and Technical Park, which we considered presented an unacceptable risk to public safety due to its proximity to a major chemical production facility. On 20 April 2026, Halton Borough Council issued and served an application for a statutory review of the Secretary of State’s planning decision. HSE is taking part in those proceedings.”
A spokesperson for Halton Borough Council said: “Halton Borough Council confirms it has submitted a planning statutory review to the High Court and is awaiting further direction from the Court.”
A spokesperson for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said: “The Combined Authority has had no involvement in plans for Heath Park and has not been made aware of any potential judicial review.”