‘Shame on you’ – anger as Eddie Stobart warehouse plans approved

The logistics firm’s proposals to construct a national distribution centre were turned down by the authority in November but it lodged an appeal against the decision, as well as submitting a fresh planning application.

The revised application was approved by the development management committee at the Town Hall on Wednesday evening – despite 1,100 objections to the scheme.

Residents reacted angrily to the decision, with shouts of ‘shame on you’  and the ‘elections are next year’ heard in the chamber.

RECAP > The planning meeting as it happened

It will be built on land north of Barleycastle Lane, opposite the firm’s existing headquarters at Stretton Green Distribution Park, and could open by the end of 2020.

Warrington South MP Faisal Rashid could not attend the meeting due to activities in Parliament – but former borough councillor Laurence Murphy read a statement from the MP out to the committee.

Mr Rashid urged members to reject the plans.

He said: “Setting this precedent could open the floodgates to future development on these protected areas of land.

“I have been actively supporting a brownfield-first approach to development to protect these much-loved green spaces.”

But Gary Halman, director at Avison Young, the planning consultant for the scheme, defended the proposals.

He said: “This is not a speculative proposal that promises things that won’t be delivered.

“This new investment will almost double the positive economic impact Eddie Stobart has on the Warrington economy.”

He added that the application has been ‘closely scrutinised’ by highways chiefs, who he says are content that the proposals are ‘adequate’.

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Andy Farrall, the council’s executive director for economic regeneration, growth and environment, also weighed in on the debate.

He told committee members the scheme is ‘largely the same’ application as the first one but said the council has an ‘important role’ in supporting the local economy and businesses.

While revealing he would be supporting the plans, committee member Cllr Peter Carey said the proposals will benefit the town’s economy and create hundreds of new jobs.

He also claimed that ‘measured against’ the benefit of the scheme is a ‘surrender of a small piece’ of green belt land, adding that in the context of what has ‘already happened’ in north Warrington it is ‘small’.

The application was approved subject to a section 106 agreement but it will still need to get the nod from the secretary of state.

Cllr Ryan Bate told committee members the evidence before them ‘set a very low bar’ for very special circumstances.

Cllr Ryan Bate

He added: “So please ask yourselves, is this the future you want for the borough of Warrington?

“Ignoring the importance of green belt?

“Ignoring the concerns of the local population?

“Ignoring the integrity of the local plan-making process?

“Is that the reputation you want for this council?

“This committee made the right decision last year on an almost identical application. Please do the right thing again.”

Committee member Cllr Judith Wheeler hit out at Cllr Carey’s comments after the meeting.

Cllr Judith Wheeler

She said: “For a councillor to suggest – and not for the first time – that ‘we’ve had our development in the west (of Warrington) and now it’s your turn’ (i.e. the South) is inappropriate, biased, unfounded and promotes division between the different areas of Warrington when all councillors should be working for the social and economic wellbeing of the town.

“I was councillor for Whittle Hall (as it was) from 2004-2011.

“Those years saw the development of Chapelford, Lingley Mere and Omega and the construction of the new junction 8 off the M62 to service all that development.

“To compare development there – on what was largely brownfield derelict  land, the old Burtonwood airbase – to the creeping destruction of the green belt land in south Warrington is nonsense.

“There are incomparable differences.

“Thousands of residents weren’t objecting in West Warrington as they are in South Warrington. Doesn’t that tell you something.

“Member if DMC are mandated to decide planning applications on their merits, not on ‘it’s your turn now’.”

Commenting on the decision to approve the plans, Tory Warrington South parliamentary candidate Andy Carter said: “The decision to approve this massive logistics hub for Eddie Stobart was taken by councillors who are out of touch with residents and who have failed to follow national planning guidance. 

Andy Carter

“To hear a councillor ask a question about where the site was located demonstrated they hadn’t read their briefing papers or even been on a site visit to look at how this development would impact on the local community.

“Sadly, this approval opens the floodgates for further applications prior to the adoption of the local plan.

“I’ll be writing to Robert Jenrick MP, the new secretary of state, to ask him to call this decision in for review given the scale and impact on the wider area.”