Canmoor Developments secures planning consent for new 832,400 sq ft industrial park in Liverpool city region that could provide employment for up to 1,600 people. Tony McDonough reports
Councillors in St Helens have approved an application from Canmoor Developments to build a new 832,400 sq ft industrial park.
A previous plan for a 1m sq ft development across 10 units on the 50-acre Millfield Park close to Haydock Industrial Estate, was rejected by councillors on the St Helens planning committee.
However, Canmoor returned with a revised plan and this week councillors voted in favour of the scheme. Nine voted in favour and four against. There had been a number of objections to the development.
One local resident said: “Our property is situated on the four ways of Ashtons Cross on Liverpool Road. We already experience a ridiculously high volume of HGVs and general traffic at this junction.
“Since the opening of the Amazon warehouse we have noticed a huge increase in the movement of HGVs, some of which are clearly too large to be using this route, 24 hours a day. This is already having an impact on our ability to sleep.”
This revised scheme will comprise eight units ranging in size from 20,250 sq ft to 496,500 sq ft. Planning documents claim it has the potential to provide employment for between 1,000 and 1,600 people.
Canmoor’s website says: “Millfield Lane comprises 50 acres of allocated employment land which is capable of supporting approximately 950,000 sq ft of development in buildings of up to 500,000 sq ft.
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“…All buildings will be constructed to the highest standards and will benefit from high quality office accommodation, car parking and loading areas within a landscaped environment.”
St Helens council had designated this site as suitable for development and employment use. It was removed from the Green Belt under its Local Plan. This project would provide parking for 833 cars and 196 HGVs.