DESPITE opposition from more than 300 local residents and Birchwood Town Council, planning chiefs are recommending approval of amended plans to develop the Trident Business Park at Risley into a sizeable HGV distribution depot.
Residents who are proposing to object to the proposals at Thursday’s Development Management Committee, claim the amendments have done nothing to allay their concerns over large numbers of HGV movements, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
They have also raised concerns that nothing is being done to protect WWII buildings on the site.
The controversial proposals by St Modwen Developments involve the demolition of existing dwellings at 689 and 689a Warrington Rd and former Noggin public house and existing industrial premises and redevelopment of site to provide buildings for employment use (use classes E(g)(iii) / B8), access and car parking,
landscaping, and associated works on land and At Trident Business Park, Land At Trident Business Park.
A total of 333 Letters of objection have been received in response to 4 consultation periods and 28 letters of support.
Concerned residents who have launched their own campaign group and social media page posted: “Unfortunately not a single one of the 35 proposed conditions will benefit the residents and there is NO condition restricting operating hours, which is completely unacceptable.
“This is the worst possible outcome for our community and couldn’t be worse if it had gone directly to the Secretary of State 18 months ago.
“Once again the rate paying residents have been completely ignored and St Modwen and big business has got everything they wanted.”
A spokesperson added: “The residents remain hopeful that the members of the DMC will make the right decision faced with all the concerns raised with regards to the application and refuse it.”
Expressing concern over the future of WWII buildings they added: We were previously told the WWII buildings on the site were not sufficiently important to prevent this development. However the response from APAS regarding the historic value of some buildings reads very differently stating:-
“Having reviewed the supporting documentation along with the information held on the Cheshire Historic Environment records, it is clear that there are significant archaeological considerations which will require a program of archaeological works. It goes onto state:-
“The Noggin Public House is identified on the first edition ordinance survey map of the area in 1878 subsequently it is likely that the demolition of this structure would destroy any potential historical materials within the public house, which may provide key information on the date of construction.
“The warehousing to be demolished held a key role in WWII, the structures form part of the Royal Ordnance Factory at Risley Moss and was one of only eight “filling factories” where munitions were filled. The location and scale of thes factories were significant to the national war effort and the remaining structures within the proposed development from part of this factory.”
Meanwhile planners say the the application proposes employment development on a site within an existing employment area, which they state is acceptable in principle subject to conditions:
These include:
• There would be no unacceptable impacts in relation to the highway network, noise, air quality, contaminated land, ecology, flood risk and drainage and carbon reduction.
• On balance the proposal would not have an unacceptable detrimental impact on the amenity of the area having regard to the size and scale of the buildings proposed and their relationship to the residential area when taking into account the landscape proposals and amended design of the units proposed.
• The proposed development would also result in the loss of 7 TPO’d trees. Whilst this does result in harm, this is considered to be acceptable when considered together with the level of mitigation planting proposed which would in the longer-term provide an increase in net gain in quantity of trees across the site.
• There are a number of benefits of the proposed development including a net increase in jobs
• The benefits of the proposal are considered to outweigh the harm in relation to protected trees and impact to streetscene/ character of the area is considered to be limited when considered with the enhanced planting proposal.
• The application is therefore recommended for approval subject to conditions including 10 year landscape management plan.
The former Noggin pub
proposed the following changes to the scheme:
• A reduction in height (Unit T81 height to haunch reduced from 12.5m to 10m)
• Change in roof design
• Adjustment to the southern access from Daten Avenue
• Enhanced planting
Planning officers say consideration has been given to the necessity to re-consult on the amended plans received. In this instance it was considered that the proposed amendments constitute substantial differences or fundamental change to the originally submitted proposal. The LPA has acted fairly and reasonably taking in to account the duty to fully consider representations from interested parties and has re-consulted in order to make sure that nobody has been deprived of theopportunity to make any representations that they may have wanted to make on the application
as amended due to the nature of the change/s.
Planners are recommending the scheme is approved subject to the amendments and conitions.
The exisiting site and how it will look with screening
Town council and residents team up to fight proposed Trident Business Park development
