Huge distribution centre could create 400 jobs
£30M DEVELOPMENT LINKED TO AMAZON APPROVED
PLANS for a huge £30m distribution centre in Melton, which could create up to 400 jobs, has been approved after developers pledged to reduce its impact on nearby residents.
East Riding Council’s Planning Committee heard the Wykeland development, at Melton West Business Park, would bring jobs and investment to the area after nationwide unemployment recently hit three-year highs.
Wykeland’s managing director Dominic Gibbons told councillors the logistics company set to take over the completed facility was operating in one of the few sectors growing during the coronavirus pandemic.
The developer has previously declined to confirm speculation that the operator will be Amazon, as has the technology multinational.
Mr Gibbons added the company would address residents’ concerns on noise, traffic, light and air pollution, with a 2.4m high acoustic fence around most of its boundary in the plans.
The company have also agreed to work with council officers to switch off vehicle reversing warnings at night, or to use a digital “white noise” device to reduce the volume.
The committee heard the facility would operate 24-hours-a-day, seven-daysa-week.
Mr Collingwood, of the Save Ferriby campaign group, said the plans were a “trojan horse” which would see local village roads clogged with hundreds of vans.
He added residents feared they could pose a danger to children walking to and from South Hunsley Secondary School, while also increasing pollution and making existing noise from the business park louder.
Councillors heard a petition against the plans had been signed by 1,067 people, with 139 objections also lodged.
Councillors voted ten in favour and one against to approve the plans, set to start with the building of a new roundabout to link the A63 with Brickyard Lane.
Wykeland said in a statement building was slated to begin before Christmas when the first contractors are set to arrive on site, with mid-2021 set as the finish date.
Mr Gibbons said: “When this is completed it will bring the total number of jobs at the business park to around 2,000.
“The business park is recognised as a key employment site and the council’s 2016 Local Plan stated it played a central role in the East Riding economy.
“These plans could not have anticipated the effect the coronavirus pandemic has had on unemployment, with businesses closing and many jobs lost.
“This will create hundreds of jobs both at the facility itself and during construction, developments that provide sustainable jobs should be reported.
“We’ve assessed concerns and propose a number of mitigation measures to address those of residents and we’ve also worked with all statutory consultees who have no objections.
“It is fully compliant with the council’s local plan on jobs and economic development.”
Mr Collingwood said: “Any development at the business park should be less intrusive on residents, not more.
“Residents already suffer from noise from other developments on the business park.
“The plans could also negatively impact on ecology and biodiversity in an area recognised as environmentally important.”
Cllr Abraham said the plans would mean activity at the business park would move closer to an “acceptable threshold” before they begin to harm residents.
Cllr Abraham said: “Officers say the development would be acceptable with proper management.
“If it is not properly run then it could harm environmental and human health.
“This facility is on a site for businesses and will create jobs, but it’s important that residents aren’t impacted by it.”
Cllr Michael Lee said it was always hard to maintain the balance between supporting businesses and protecting residents when deciding on large developments.
But he said he backed the plans on balance, adding they brought a number of benefits including “critical” new jobs.
Cllr Lee said: “We should be doing our best to work with local businesses, logistics is a growing area unlike sectors such as the high street.
“So I support approving it, but only on the understanding that local residents are protected.”