Battle stations over warehouse scheme

Shaw and Crompton Parish Council planning committee meeting

A PUBLIC inquiry into controversial plans for a warehouse extension and multi-storey car park in Shaw is set to start on March 31.

Fulfilment Logistics’ proposals for its Lilac Mill site in Beal Lane have twice been defeated, but the firm has appealed with the application to be decided by a planning inspector.

The planning committee was told the applicant has tweaked the plans to change the access to the three-storey car park and was asked for its comments.

A proposed new access from Beal Lane has been scrapped with the entrance to be from the mini-roundabout on Beal Lane, as is currently the case.

Designs for a 175ft (53-metres) high warehouse — only eight metres lower than Oldham Civic Centre — were scrapped after sparking an outcry that it would tower over Shaw. But a fresh application would still see it reach 127ft (39-metres).

Residents have been opposed, saying the warehouse is too tall and disproportionate to existing buildings, it will block out light during the day, while flooding the area with artificial light through the night, and will cause traffic problems.

The firm, a mail order business owned by JD Williams, has again vowed to fight after Oldham Council’s planning committee turned down plans in March and then a resubmitted application in August.

Committee members agreed the amendment was a minor improvement but said it did not alter their disapproval of the development.

Chairman Councillor Simon Farrell said: “The more we affirm to JD Williams that we do not want this development to go ahead the better.”

The committee agreed to respond with thanks for being given the opportunity to comment on the amendment but that it did not change its overall view.

The firm says it has outgrown the site and needs to expand to secure the jobs of the 1,000-strong workforce.

It claims the development will only have a minor visual impact and have a petition signed by more than 500 employees saying the plans will create more job opportunities and encourage investment in the area.