| Administrative History | Runcorn New Town was designated by the Minister of Housing and Local Government on 10 April 1964, with the aim of providing housing and jobs for the people of North Merseyside and Liverpool in particular. The site was chosen for its convenient location in relation to the Merseyside conurbation. The designated area (2930 hectares) covered nearly the whole of the existing Urban District and a part of Runcorn Rural District. The Corporation was formally appointed on 30 April 1964.
The Draft Master Plan for the New Town, prepared by Arthur Ling and Associates, was published in January 1966; after public consultations, the Master Plan was submitted to the Minister in April 1967. It received Ministerial approval in August 1968.
By March 1981, it had completed the construction of nearly 10,500 rented housing units, over 350,000 sq. metres of industrial units and nearly 90,000 sq. metres of commercial and office space. The population had risen from c.28,000 to c.64,000.
Under the Warrington and Runcorn New Towns (Transfer of Functions) Order 1981, made by the Secretary of State on 27 February 1981, the Corporation was dissolved on 1 April 1981 and it functions, property, rights and liabilities were transferred to Warrington Development Corporation which was renamed Warrington and Runcorn Development Corporation. |