Planning chiefs are due to decide whether to give the go-ahead to a huge warehouse and distribution centre amid concerns over issues such as traffic and proximity to housing.
Commercial Development Projects Ltd, based in Elland, West Yorkshire, has applied to build the structure at the 22-hectare "HBC Field" site off Lovels Way in Halebank, Widnes, bordered by Alstom rail works to the north. It's also close to residential areas south and east including Halebank Road, Baguley Avenue, and Clapgate Crescent.
Facilities would include the main distribution centre, an office, 181 trailer bays, 480 parking spaces, vehicle wash, security gatehouse and electricity substation. These would be distributed around the development site, measuring about 2.4 million sq ft in total, of which 545,000 sq ft would be employment floorspace.
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It's expected to create 600 jobs during construction and 500 ongoing roles once built.
A report published by Halton Borough Council ahead an upcoming development management committee decision meeting at Runcorn Town Hall on Tuesday, December 6, said the proposal has prompted six sets of representations from the public plus comment from Halebank Parish Council and Cllr Mike Wharton, council leader and councillor for Ditton, Hale Village and Halebank.
Residents have raised concerns over the project including it's "far too close to residential areas", increased flood risk, traffic, proximity to the Halebank conservation area, being "out of character", loss of wildlife wetland, a reduction in house values, and "unbearable" light and noise pollution, plus requests such as the loading bays to face the Alstom rail works and extra tree planting to "protect residents".
Halebank Parish Council's objections ranged from a proposed second access roundabout and noise impacts, light nuisance to the 18-metre height of the building, which it said was six metres taller than Alstom.
It also argued the visual impact would be enough to "undermine" plans to build 484 homes on nearby land south of Halebank Road.
In his comment, Cllr Wharton urged the committee to consider the building's height, access from Halebank Road to be limited to emergency only, and noise impacts to be adequately mitigated.
The council planning report said concerns have either been addressed or will be via condition.
It said some residents will experience "temporary moderate adverse" effects during construction, adding that once completed it will "at worst" result in "moderate adverse" effects on visitors to Halebank Park, in addition to other "minor adverse" effects on residents who live near the site or use public footpaths nearby.
Addressing the issue of the nearby conservation area, the report said the impact would be "minor adverse" while the landscaping buffer grows.
The project has been recommended for approval with conditions.
In its conclusion, the report said: "Any development of such a scale and use undoubtedly has the potential for significant impact on the environment, the landscape and character of the area and the lives of adjoining residents especially during the construction phase.
"The application has been assessed with regard to the appropriate policy criteria and the impact of the development has been thoroughly assessed through the Environmental Impact Assessment.
"The Environmental Statement concludes that the proposal will not have a significant detrimental impact on the environment, the character of the area, highways, amenity of surrounding residents or on any other grounds."
It added: "The proposed development is considered to offer a well-designed, high quality development.
"It is considered that significant efforts have been made to minimise and mitigate likely impacts having particular regard to its visual appearance, screen mounding and landscaping, the environment and the amenity of adjoining residents and communities.
"The scale, general design and form of the building are not considered unusual or out of character for a development of this type."
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