Trident Business Park development given green light

The hub, which will be on Trident Business Park off Warrington Road, was first proposed by developers in December 2021.

Since then, a lengthy planning battle has ensued between the developers - St Modwen Logistics - residents, and local councillors.

Planning documents were lodged with the council regarding this development in 2021 (Image: Newsquest)

Planners at the council recommended that the proposals be approved, which they were at the committee meeting held on Thursday evening, June 22.

The committee voted in favour of the proposal 7-2.

As per the council's website, the full makeup of the Development Management Committee includes the following councillors: Steve Parish, Helen Milner, Nigel Balding, Bob Barr, Siobhan Carr, Phil Eastty, Brian Gallagher, Mark Jervis, Craig Lenihan, Denis Matthews, Karen Mundry, Judith Wheeler.

This was despite the application drawing more than 330 letters of objection, versus fewer than 30 letters of support.

It should be noted that some of these letters were sent by the same residents across the four consultation phases of this development.

The £22million investment will operate 24/7, which has been one source of criticism.

The £22million development is set to go ahead following approval of the council (Image: St Modwen Logistics)

Speaking at the meeting, the former chair of Birchwood Town Council - Cllr David Ellis - said: "Any facility operating 24/7 brings constant noise and traffic."

He added: "A sensible approach is to limit operating hours."

Speaking to the Warrington Guardian, Cllr Ellis said: "Naturally I am very disappointed with the outcome regarding this application.

"I put in a huge amount of time working with and supporting residents against this application, and while some concessions were made by the applicant with regard to building heights, screening with planting and building orientation, I still have significant concerns about the potential for noise disturbance at night especially from HGV reversing beepers."

He added: "I also believe that one of the residential properties remaining will be badly affected by loss of light from the new structure.

"I also have concerns about the potential impact on local traffic, but this will depend very much on who the final tenant is."

Another Birchwood Town Councillor, Ian Atkin, spoke out against the proposals - particularly in light of residential amenities.

As per the proposals, trees are expected to be planted that will block or partially block the view of the new distribution hub from Warrington Road.

Cllr Atkin claimed that the mock-up designs submitted by the developer were 'deliberately misleading,' explaining that they were designed to reflect how the trees would look in the summertime, in full bloom.

He said that residents in the winter would see 'massive grey industrial warehouses out of their windows.'

Cllr Atkin added: "A few evergreen trees will not mitigate this."

The view from properties facing the development show that when trees are not in bloom the warehousing complex will be fully visible (Image: Newsquest)

Commenting on social media, Conservative councillor for Woolston and Rixton, Rob Tynan, said: "Please note both Conservative councillors on the [committee] voted against this planning application, while all Labour councillors voted to approve."

Speaking after the council voted to pass the application, local residents told the Warrington Guardian about their distaste for the decision.

John Mitchell said: "It's simple, [I feel] betrayed by local politicians and the council who aren't interested in local people."

One resident, Janet Howard, explained how it may be difficult for some to sell their homes near the development in the future: "I feel really sorry for the people trying to sell their house opposite to where this development will be.

"We were going to view it and then I read the article about the impact this will have on the local area and it totally put me off."

Another Birchwood resident, who has asked to remain anonymous, said: "I am being assessed for autism, I have particular needs for wildlife, birds and quiet.

"I feel that the council are ruining my home with all these changes; they have no regard for the residents or wildlife.

"I feel hoodwinked."

The developers suggest that the use of trees around the area will screen the warehouse from view from street-level (Image: St Modwen Logistics)

Nancy James added: "We're all being hemmed in by big business and industry all the time, with minimal benefits and few opportunities for decent employment for locals.

"This tide of change needs to be stopped.

"If this Trident development does go ahead, it'll set a precedent and local communities will be further and further adversely impacted, while industry giants get richer and more powerful."

A spokesperson for St Modwen Logistics released the following statement to the Warrington Guardian: "We are pleased that our revised plans for development at Trident Business Park have been approved by Warrington Borough Council.

"Our plans for the park will transform outdated areas of the site into a modern, sustainable business park fit for the future, creating employment opportunities and substantial economic growth for the local area.”