Warrington considered for Nato complex

The complex would be part of a Nato restructure

The north-west of England could be the site of a massive military communications complex for the Nato alliance.

A former US air base in Warrington is being considered along with a handful of other areas in the UK.

English Partnerships, which owns the site of the former base at Burtonwood, says it has been approached by officials from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato).

An English Partnership spokesman said Nato has asked for details about the space available for development.

The base was used by the US Air Force until 1993

The 550-acre Warrington site - known as Omega - is regarded as one of the prime development areas in the North West, with easy access to the motorway network and the £20m Junction 8 on the M62 under construction.

The proposed new complex is part of a wider restructuring at Nato, which expanded three years ago, with the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland joining the alliance.

Leader of Warrington Borough Council John Gartside said: "Nato is looking for a large area for a research, development and administration site, following the expansion of the organisation into countries such as the Czech Republic.

'Peace keeping

"Omega would be a terrific site for this development.

"It is perfect because of its location to the motorway network and the closeness of Manchester Airport, with its direct flights to New York and Washington.

"We would be delighted to see our American colleagues returning to Warrington in a positive peace keeping role."

The Burtonwood site was opened as a Royal Air Force base in 1938. It was taken over by the United States Air Force in 1967 before being closed in July 1993.