Safety concerns have been raised for residents living near a chemical plant in Runcorn after a proposed new community was scrapped due to its proximity to the facility. The Heath Park Development, once hailed as a modern-day Port Sunlight, was cancelled by Secretary of State Steve Reed following a public inquiry held largely behind closed doors.
Critical Infrastructure at Risk
The Runcorn Chemicals Complex, located about 1km from the proposed site, produces 98% of the chlorine used in the UK's tap water. The government cited sensitivity of safety and security information about hazardous chemical infrastructure as the reason for holding much of the inquiry in private under Section 321 of the Town and Country Planning Act.
Questions have emerged over the safety of people living between the chemical plant and the proposed site, particularly in Weston Village and Weston Point. Some homes are within yards of the boundary fence, and the area includes dense Victorian terraced housing, two primary schools, and two nurseries.
Heath Park: A Beacon Project Cancelled
The now-cancelled Heath Park was to be built on the former Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) site in Runcorn. Plans included 545 residential units, care facilities, a conference centre, offices, and shops. In 2020, site owners SOG Ltd described it as a "21st century version of Port Sunlight." The proposal won two national awards and was approved by Halton Borough Council in May 2024.
However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) objected due to the scheme's proximity to the chemical complex, citing modelling scenarios of chemical leaks and spills. At a meeting in May 2025, Halton's planning chiefs claimed the HSE's figures were 30 years out of date and accused it of "stoking fears."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.
Inquiry Outcome and Legal Challenge
On March 9 2026, the government published a letter detailing the inquiry outcome, with Secretary of State Steve Reed agreeing to refuse the application, placing "very substantial weight" on safety concerns raised by the HSE. In April, Halton Borough Council launched a High Court challenge against the decision.
The HSE's publicly available information warns that a major accident at the INEOS Inovyn site could produce a toxic gas cloud, smoke plume, or a drifting cloud of flammable gas that "may ignite." Fires may generate smoke clouds leading to breathing difficulties and soot deposition. The HSE warns of "potential for burns to body" that could be "possibly life threatening," and gas that could be "potentially fatal if inhaled."
Local MP Seeks Access to Evidence
Local MP Sarah Pochin said the issues "extend beyond a single development site and touch on wider questions of public safety and community confidence." She requested access to the confidential information from the hearing on April 28, which was acknowledged on May 7 but not yet approved. Pochin stated, "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."
Industry and Regulatory Responses
INEOS, which operates the site, stated it is a top-tier COMAH facility operating under stringent regulations, with significant investment in safety and reliability. The HSE said its advice considered the potential impact of a major incident on a larger population, and that its evidence is publicly available.
Halton Borough Council described the decision as "fundamental" to regeneration efforts. The council has a target of building 471 new homes annually for 20 years, primarily on brownfield sites near industrial areas. It stated it takes public safety "extremely seriously" but "takes a different view" to the HSE on acceptable low-level risk, believing "sometimes community needs outweigh low level safety risks." The council is "committed to continuing to challenge the current decision."
