Fight begins over giant warehouse

Reporter: Richard Hooton
Date online: 01 April 2009

RESIDENTS turned out in force at a public inquiry to demonstrate their opposition to building a giant warehouse and multi-storey car park in Shaw.

Up to 100 people packed yesterday’s hearing at the Civic Centre into JD Williams’s appeal against Oldham Council’s rejection of its extension plans.

The company wants to build a 127ft (39 metre) high warehouse and three-storey car park at its Lilac and Briar Mills site in Beal Lane. Residents fear it will tower over Shaw.

Planning inspector Patrick Whitehead will decide if the location, scale and need of the development is justified against the impact on the landscape and views. He will also take into account residents’ concerns over increased traffic.

Opening the company’s case, Frances Patterson QC said the site, which has operated since 1987, accounts for 90 per cent of the mail order company’s total business activity, dispatching up to 80,000 parcels a day. It employs over 1,000 people, 70 per cent of whom live within six miles, spending nearly £20 million a year on wages.

Success has led to it breaching its maximum stockholding capacity. Satellite warehouses have been deployed, but these have increased storage and distribution costs, traffic movements and delays in supplies. If inefficiencies continue, the business faces closure.

But the £41 million development will secure, and create, jobs and the future of the company in Shaw, she said.

Miss Patterson said the current height and scale of the warehouse is the least that can be achieved to make the investment viable and it’s within a Primary Employment Zone.

She said the functional building “achieves a good standard of architectural design”. Changes in views from residential properties will be softened by landscaping proposals and the warehouse will be seen as part of the industrial buildings already there.

“While there will be change and visual impact there is no harm to any significant vistas or views or the setting of any significant landmarks,” she added.

But Giles Cannock, representing Oldham Council, said the planning application failed to comply with design and landscape policies.

He added it was clear there would be a harmful impact on views and pointed out the company had still grown and increased profits despite their storage problems.

Jaqueline Fisher, an environmental consultant called by the council, said the proposal was poorly designed and would be visually intrusive.

Andrew Fuller, a principal planner speaking for the council, said the development would harm the landscape and the benefits did not outweigh the visual harm.

Four residents will give evidence on behalf of group SOS Campaign — Stop Overdeveloping Shaw — while Councillor Rod Blyth will represent ward borough councillors and Councillor David Dunning will represent Shaw and Crompton Parish Council.

The hearing is scheduled to finish tomorrow.