Warehouse ‘tower’ bid ends in failure

OLDHAM PLANNING COMMITTEE

WORRIED Shaw residents breathed a huge sigh of relief last night when Fulfilment Logistics’ second attempt to build a towering warehouse and multi-storey car park ended in failure.

Councillors refused the controversial application for Lilac Mill on Beal Lane — previously rejected in March — following a two-and-a-half-hour debate.

A 150-strong crowd packed the council chamber after submitting letters to the planning department stating that the warehouse was too tall and disproportionate to existing buildings. They also claimed the structure would block out light during the day while flooding the area with artificial light through the night, while car park access would cause traffic problems.

Designs for a 173ft-high (53 metre) warehouse — only eight metres lower than Oldham Civic Centre — have been scrapped but the fresh application would still see the structure reach a maximum height of 127ft (39 metres).

Councillors felt the proposed building was still too high and heavily criticised the impact on traffic in a densely populated area.

Shaw and Crompton Parish Councillor Hazel Gloster said the location was unsuitable for a development of this size.

Council leader Howard Sykes said the development would further increase traffic problems in an area that is the second most polluted in the borough.

He added: “This plan isn’t substantially different to the first ones apart from the fact that phase three has been deleted.

“As far as the visual impact is concerned, you only need to be half up Grains Road to see how high it is and the proposed one will be even higher.”

But Ian Carr, speaking on behalf of the applicant, stressed there were no objections from any statutory body and that the proposal made best use of the site.

He added: “We have also modified it by removing phase three which in the previous plan proposed erection of a smaller high bay warehouse.

“We have held public consultations and have a statement on visual impact. The proposal will only have a minor impact.”

Councillor Stephen Bashforth said: “This is a horrible building and I would rather not see it there.

“But I don’t want to chase a quality company out of the area and be left with a derelict site.”

The plan was refused because it did not comply with massing, design and visual amenity of the area.


Housing plan thrown out after local objections

COUNCILLORS refused a plan to erect 14 houses on land at Belgrave Road, Oldham.

The proposal was for four short terraces, each of three and four houses comprising of eight four-bedroom properties and six three-bedroom properties. The plan received 74 letters of objections from near-by residents on the grounds that it will destroy the outlook of the existing buildings, loss of green space and put the wildlife habitat at risk. Kathleen Edwards, of Belgrave Road, said: “Our biggest concern is that this plan will wipe out all the wildlife.”


Mosque refused

A RESUBMITTED plan for a mosque and community centre on land between 118-142 Manchester Road, Werneth, was refused.


Sprinkler tank can stay for six months

A CONTROVERSIAL application for a water tank built without planning permission on land near Tesco’s in Failsworth was given temporary permission for six months.

The sprinkler tank on Ashton Road West was built a year ago.

Objector Elain Eden said it had an injurious impact on near-by residents.

The plan was deferred at the last planning meeting in July to give the applicant, Oldham Property Partnership, time to negotiate a new location for the tank with Tesco’s.

But Andrew Brown, agent for the applicant, said it failed to get a response from Tesco’s.

The plan was approved, subject to the two groups finding a suitable site for the water tank.