Residents urged to take part in Plan referendum
Residents are being asked to take part in a referendum on a Neighbourhood Development Plan for the Warburton area of Trafford.
The public referendum on the Warburton Neighbourhood Development Plan (WNDP) will take place on 12 February 2026 and will ask Warburton residents to vote either yes or no for the plan to be introduced.
Earlier this year, the Council held a public consultation on the draft plan and an independent examiner recommended it should be put to a community referendum.
The Plan, which has been developed by Warburton Parish Council, includes a number of policies, which will guide development. It also proposes to protect five green areas by designating them as Local Green Spaces.
The ballot paper for the referendum will ask local residents to vote yes or no on the following question: Do you want Trafford Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Warburton to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?
If more than half of those voting in a referendum have voted in favour of the neighbourhood plan, the Council must make it part of the statutory development plan and use it when making decisions on planning applications in the area.
Residents can vote in the referendum if they are 18 years or over on 12 February 2026; live in the parish of Warburton; and are registered to vote in the local government elections.
Voting takes place in person at the Parish Rooms, St Werburgh’s Parish, Bent Lane, Warburton, WA13 9TQ or you can also post your vote. Go to https://www.trafford.gov.uk/council-data-and-democracy/elections/warburton-referendum for more information.
Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, said: “The proposed Warburton Neighbourhood Development Plan is very important and will shape any future development proposals for the area. We would like to encourage as many residents as possible to let us know what they think about the plan by taking part in the referendum.”
Paul Beckmann, from Warburton Parish Council, said: “Warburton Parish Council and their consultants have worked extremely hard for a long time on the Neighbourhood Plan, commencing in 2019, but with an interruption because of Covid. We have held two previous consultations with the Warburton residents, carefully noting and frequently incorporating their comments and believe we have secured widespread support for the plan. We are extremely proud of our plan and very much hope the residents will recognise our hard work and approve.”
To view the draft plan, please use Trafford Council’s website where all of the documents that form part of the referendum can be found. For people who do not have access to the internet to view the draft Neighbourhood Plan, a paper copy can be provided on request – please telephone: 0161 912 3149 to request one.
