Former storage premises set to be demolished to make way for a new 465,000 sq ft logistics hub
Rochdale Council had initially turned down the plan from developer Trammell Crow Co Logistics during a planning committee session in December 2023, labelling the project off Manchester Road as too large and a case of ‘overdevelopment’. This decision has been overturned following an appeal.
In a hearing before the Planning Inspectorate, both sides presented their cases along with Russell Homes – the developers orchestrating the ambitious £400m masterplan designed to catalyse employment opportunities, construct new homes, and enhance transportation infrastructures around Heywood. Russell Homes suggested that the logistics hub could negatively impact the market value of the proposed 1,000 residences nearby.
However, the Planning Inspector, Benjamin Webb, was not persuaded by these apprehensions. His report elucidated: “Insofar as Russell Homes’ concerns appear to reflect objections raised in relation to sales values and viability at application stage, these were not pursued at the Inquiry.”
And he added, “I have otherwise been provided with no convincing reason to believe that the overall delivery of South Heywood Masterplan, or the approved housing site’s role within it, would be compromised by the appeal scheme.”
Mr Webb also disagreed with the council’s stance on the alleged poor design and potential overdevelopment of the site. He reported that the scale and design of the proposed constructions were satisfactory and would not cultivate a perception of overdevelopment.
The inspector commented: “Whilst I am conscious of the fact that securing beauty within the built environment is national policy, this is not an attribute typically associated with modern warehouses.”
“For that matter, it is also not an attribute of any of the older warehouses on site. Approaching the matter on that basis, the incorporation of bands of colour across the top half of each elevation of the proposed units would provide a far more interesting and distinctive appearance than if each was left blank.”
He further noted, “From a distance, on a clear day, these bands of colour might even help to diminish visual perception of built form.”
The inspector expressed satisfaction that Trammell Crow Co had taken reasonable steps to secure ‘beauty’ in accordance with national policy.
More about Trammell Crow here: https://www.trammellcrow.com/
https://couriernews.co.uk/blog/huge-new-logistics-site-gets-go-ahead/