A HIGHLY controversial scheme to build 139 homes on the site of the Pavilions sports and social club in Runcorn look dead in the water after the developer withdrew its planning application.

The proposals by Gleeson Homes for the Sandy Lane scheme were approved by Halton Council’s planning department last October.

But the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) objected  due to its proximity to an Inovyn Chlorvinyls plant dealing with hazardous chemicals. The scheme was then referred to the secretary of state, who called a public inquiry.

The virtual inquiry was conducted last week with a judgement yet to be announced. It was conducted largely behind closed doors under regulations reserved for issues of ‘national security or measures taken to ensure the security of premises or property', where disclosure of information would be ‘contrary to the national interest’.

But a spokesman for the planning inspectorate - which carried out the inquiry - said the application had now been withdrawn by Gleeson.

An email from the Inspectorate, seen by the LDRS, said: "Following the withdrawal today by M J Gleeson of their application for housing at the Pavilions, Sandy Lane, Runcorn, the inspector will take no further action and the inquiry is closed."

A spokeswoman for Halton Council would only confirm that the application had been withdrawn and that the inquiry was over.

The news will come as a relief to campaigners who fought the plans since they were first put forward in 2017, due to fears over the loss of playing fields and the proximity of the Viridor energy-from-waste plant.

In a previous statement, Gleeson said its project would bring 139 'high quality, affordable homes' for those on low to average incomes to the area giving the opportunity of home ownership to many first time buyers.