Business park firms can open for longer
FIRMS that move into a rural business park will be able to open longer hours despite fierce objections from residents.
A greater range of companies will also be allowed at Langley Business Park, Langley Road, after an application from developer Seddon Construction was approved.
It means when the nine-unit park is complete firms can operate from 7am to 11pm seven days a week.
Original permission, given in 2018, allowed for offices and light industrial activity – now more variety is allowed, including storage and distribution.
Although concerns were raised about increased noise, traffic and the affect increased activity would have on a rural village, a Cheshire East Council planning meeting approved the application.
A report for committee members said: “The applicant believes that these restrictions are too prohibitive and not commercially attractive.
“Hallams Property Consultants have been engaged to assist with the marketing of the units.
“They have confirmed that (following feedback from over 50 prospective tenants), whilst the small commercial units would fill a void in the current market the restrictions are overly prohibitive and could therefore hinder the sale/rent of the units once on the market.”
The report said that the proposed changes were ‘minor’ given what had already been approved and existing landscaping plans would screen the business park, visually and in terms of noise, from residents
Previous hours of operation allowed were 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 2pm on Saturdays.
Around 40 residents objected to the plans, as did Sutton Parish Council who described them as a ‘huge upheaval’.
Ward councillor Andrew Gregory also protested and said: “There are plenty of other small commercial units in and around the area which enjoy locations which do not impact on people’s living conditions.
“The noise, increased pollution and long hours suggested by the applicant for the use of these units will result in loss of amenity for local residents.
“If people wish to work beyond these hours (the ones originally allowed), then as some many of us now do, they can work from home outside these hours.”
Seddon argued that working patterns had changed recently and the company wanted to appeal to smaller online companies and internet entrepreneurs.
The 2018 permission was a reserved matters application following outline permission being granted for the business park in 2011 as part of development that also included 76 houses.
“The noise, increased pollution and long hours will result in loss of amenity for local residents.”