10 jobs as new unit gets go-ahead
A LARGE warehouse assembly unit for a greenhouse company is to be built next to a Moorlands industrial estate and will create ten new jobs.
The premises will be the first development as a result of a controversial planning application that will also see a village double in size.
Last week members of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council’s planning applications committee approved the plans for the unit which would comprise of a 10,600-square metres manufacturing facility with ancillary office space on land at Blythe Park, Sandon Road, Cresswell.
In February 2015 a mixed use development for land at Blythe Park was recommended for refusal by planning officers.
The development involves up to 168 residential dwellings, 33,480 square metres of business offices/ light industrial and general industrial along with storage or distribution use, a community centre and shop together with highway works, landscaping, public realm and car parking.
However, when the application came before members of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council’s planning applications committee, it was approved, but had to be referred to the Secretary of State due to its nature, scale and failure to comply with provisions of the Local Plan.
A notice of approval was issued to the controversial major development 15 months later after it was first given the green light.
In August 2015 planning officers informed members of the district council’s planning committee that the Secretary of State had decided not to call in the application, which he said should be determined by the local planning authority.
In the latest application 17 letters of objection were received stating that the application refers to Cresswell as a village when it is designated as a hamlet and this makes the application inadmissible as all of the information in the application relates to a village and not a hamlet.
Objectors said the application should therefore be withdrawn.
Other issues raised included objecting to the proposed large scale housing estate in a safe, semirural area in respect of increased traffic congestion, noise pollution, insufficient school places and GP services and that the proposed industrial estate would overwhelm the small settlement.
A spokesman for the Village Voices Staffordshire Moorlands Community Group said: “The expansion of the business park would overwhelm this small hamlet.
“Should this application go through this will put enormous pressure on not only Blythe Bridge but Cresswell which is in an area that is unsustainable as it has poor transport links and poor road infrastructure as was stated at the planning committee meeting held on February 26, 2015.”
Speaking at the planning committee objecting to the proposals, Sheila Wood said: “This should be refused until the inspector looks at the 35 objections to the Local Plan. This will have an impact on the area. It is not consistent with the Local Plan.
“It was stated that no units should be built until the infrastructure was done.”
The applicant Howard Clulow said: “This is a proposed warehouse for a greenhouse company. They have been operating for 20 years and want to come under one roof.
“They have 60 staff and a further 10 are to be taken on when the warehouse is completed.
“Blythe Park is successful. There are 48 companies employing 400 people. The glass manufacturer wants to stay in the Moorlands.”
Planning application member, Jim Davies, said: “Blythe Park is busy and full. This is to extend it.
“It is situated next to the park and will comply with conditions. I see nothing wrong with it.”
Councillor Stephen Ellis said he was excited by the development now coming forward. He said: “A green building would be better than red and it would enhance the area.”
Councillors voted 11 in favour with one for refusal and one abstention.