Warrington: The Northern Town That's Thriving in a Changing Britain
As the demolition excavator tears through Warrington's former Unilever soap factory, Carl Oates, director of Dante Group, sees an opportunity. "This town is good at handling change," he says. Once contractors finish, his company plans to open a datacentre, breathing new life into a site from the first Industrial Revolution.
Warrington has been a rare bright spot in the post-industrial north-west of England, where living standards have struggled. But this former soap factory town has been quietly booming. The nuclear sector, supported by the government's decision to base Britain's nuclear programme here in 1946, is one of its most significant industries.
According to Warrington Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stephen Fitzsimons, the town has long been known for innovation and industrial prowess. "If you took the whole economy and plonked us in the south-east, we wouldn't look out of place," he says. The nuclear cluster has attracted other fast-growing industries, including cyber and cloud-computing.
However, Warrington's growth comes with challenges. Food bank use has risen by over 200% since 2019, a third of children live in poverty, and almost one in six people require debt advice. Critics argue that the town's council went too far in taking out £1.5 billion in debts to fund investments.
Despite these issues, Warrington's leaders are optimistic about the future. Hans Mundry, leader of the borough council, says that the town has been overlooked by central government and mayoral candidates. "We all know the investment hasn't been put in," he says. The upcoming devolution agenda could bring more freedom to the town.
The contrast between Warrington and other towns in the region is striking. While nearby areas struggle, this once-industrial town is thriving. Its unique blend of transport links, a strong nuclear industry, and growing tech sector make it an economic powerhouse in the north.
As one local puts it, "It's not unreasonable for people to expect change quicker than they've seen it." The outcome of the next general election could be telling, with Reform UK predicted to win Warrington comfortably. Whether Labour can regain traction or if a new force emerges will determine the town's future prospects.
As the demolition excavator tears through Warrington's former Unilever soap factory, Carl Oates, director of Dante Group, sees an opportunity. "This town is good at handling change," he says. Once contractors finish, his company plans to open a datacentre, breathing new life into a site from the first Industrial Revolution.
Warrington has been a rare bright spot in the post-industrial north-west of England, where living standards have struggled. But this former soap factory town has been quietly booming. The nuclear sector, supported by the government's decision to base Britain's nuclear programme here in 1946, is one of its most significant industries.
According to Warrington Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stephen Fitzsimons, the town has long been known for innovation and industrial prowess. "If you took the whole economy and plonked us in the south-east, we wouldn't look out of place," he says. The nuclear cluster has attracted other fast-growing industries, including cyber and cloud-computing.
However, Warrington's growth comes with challenges. Food bank use has risen by over 200% since 2019, a third of children live in poverty, and almost one in six people require debt advice. Critics argue that the town's council went too far in taking out £1.5 billion in debts to fund investments.
Despite these issues, Warrington's leaders are optimistic about the future. Hans Mundry, leader of the borough council, says that the town has been overlooked by central government and mayoral candidates. "We all know the investment hasn't been put in," he says. The upcoming devolution agenda could bring more freedom to the town.
The contrast between Warrington and other towns in the region is striking. While nearby areas struggle, this once-industrial town is thriving. Its unique blend of transport links, a strong nuclear industry, and growing tech sector make it an economic powerhouse in the north.
As one local puts it, "It's not unreasonable for people to expect change quicker than they've seen it." The outcome of the next general election could be telling, with Reform UK predicted to win Warrington comfortably. Whether Labour can regain traction or if a new force emerges will determine the town's future prospects.
, I think Warrington is like a breath of fresh air in a changing Britain, you know? Like they're not afraid to take risks and invest in their economy, which is awesome! 
The fact that they've got this nuclear industry going on and are now attracting all these tech companies is just crazy. 
And I'm all for them pushing back against the council's debt deal, it's like they're showing everyone what they're made of, you feel? 
. I mean, who needs the south-east when you got a thriving nuclear sector and a datacentre coming in? It's like they say, "if you can't compete with the big boys, beat 'em at their own game" 
. And let's be real, food bank use and debt advice are just part of growing pains - we should be investing more in our communities, not bashing them for trying to adapt 
. And yeah, Reform UK might be a dark horse candidate, but who knows, maybe they can bring some fresh ideas to the table 
. Either way, I'm stoked to see Warrington thriving and breaking free from the rest of the north-west 
.
It's like, they adapted and found new industries to grow into, which is really cool 
. But at the same time, it's sad to hear about all the food bank use and poverty rates... that can't be easy for the people living there 
. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's not just about one industry or government making a decision, but also how the whole community comes together to support each other 
. And omg, have you guys seen the new datacentre they're building? 
!
. Still, can't deny they've got some transport links and a strong industry goin' on. Guess we'll just have to wait and see how things play out with the devolution agenda and who wins in that next general election 
. But at the same time, £1.5 billion in debt is wild talk...I get why people are skeptical about how that money was spent 
.
but at the same time, I think it's crazy that they're taking out £1.5 billion in debts to fund investments... like, shouldn't that money be used to help struggling families instead? 
Anyway, it's cool that the town is booming in the nuclear sector and all that... but what about the fact that almost 1/6 of people need debt advice? That's not exactly something to brag about 
. And yeah, some people might say that the council went a bit too big for its britches with all those debt plans.
. But at the same time, I'm worried about all these people struggling financially, living in poverty, etc... 200% rise in food bank use is no joke 
. The council's decisions are definitely a hot topic, taking out £1.5 billion in debt to fund investments sounds like a lot of risk 
.
It's not like they're ignoring their problems, but it sounds like they're learning from them and trying to create more opportunities for people. That's what I love about it - it's all about resilience and adaptation. 
. But at the same time, I'm like seriously concerned about those poverty stats 
but hey, at least food bank use isn't skyrocketing... yet 
fingers crossed reform uk doesn't ruin everything 
but we gotta acknowledge the struggles too 
its not all sunshine and rainbows even tho they got a strong nuclear industry and tech sector 
maybe itll be a model for other towns in britain 
They're like the ultimate underdog, right? From being an industrial hotspot to now thriving in tech and nuclear... it's like they're defying the odds. And yeah, I can see why Labour might struggle to regain ground here - their policies just don't seem to be resonating with voters.
. And yeah, it's great that the town is optimistic about its future but at the same time, it's sad to hear that food banks are getting so much usage and poverty rates are high 
. It's like, you can't have growth without dealing with these underlying issues too