Setback for plan to build on green belt
CONTROVERSIAL plans to extend an industrial estate into the green belt have been dealt a major blow after councillors refused to recommend the scheme for approval.
Proposals to expand Bredbury Park Industrial Estate into the Tame Valley were at the centre of a furious row between neighbouring Stockport and Tameside councils last October.
Although key to Stockport’s doomed ‘spatial framework’ plans, Tameside’s anger over the ‘environmental destruction’ led to the scheme being reduced by a third to £60,000sq m.
However, since then Stockport has pulled out of the regional masterplan, while developer Quorum has revised its proposals once again – tabling a much bigger twopart ‘hybrid’ application.
The first part seeks full planning permission for two industrial units on a 40,000sq m site as well as the widening of Bredbury Park Way and the relocation of its junction with Ashton Road.
Meanwhile, the second requests ‘outline permission’ for a 53sq m ‘commercial/industrial development.’ This also includes plans for a new car park to serve Stockport Sports Village.
Despite hundreds of objections the council has recommended its planning committee grants permission for the scheme.
The officer’s report says the ‘significant economic benefits’ would ‘clearly outweigh the considerable harm caused to the green belt’.
However members of Werneth area committee unanimously voted to reject proposals.
A recommendation of refusal will now go forward to the planning and highways committee when it meets on March 25.
The committee – made up of ward councillors from the area – first heard from objector Diane Coffey.
Ms Coffey said: “The ethos of green belt protection is to protect the land against the spread of urban sprawl and provide breathing space for the local inhabitants.
“Our Tame Valley is in walking distance from Woodley and Bredbury residents and it has been a green lung during the pandemic.”
She added it would be ‘impossible’ to shield the warehouse from view and residents would also suffer from light and noise pollution.
The objector also voiced concerns over increased traffic congestion, air pollution and the loss of wildlife, including badgers.
The other side of the argument was given by Simon Pemberton who said: “I believe unequivocally that in this instance very special circumstances exist which justify granting planning permission.”
Mr Pemberton said the firm has sought to ‘fully mitigate’ the impacts on the environment, citing plans to plant for 3.6 kilometres of hedgerows and 16,000 trees, while onsite would be a 10-hectare landscape buffer.
He continued: “There is an overwhelming need for the provision of large-scale industrial and warehousing buildings in Stockport.”
He said the development would create more than 600 jobs, including in areas where ‘unemployment and deprivation are very high,’ while £8.5m would be ploughed into ‘major highways improvements.’
But Bredbury Green and Romiley ward councillor Lisa Smart said: “When it’s gone, it’s gone.”