Hundreds of people are objecting to a key logistics development proposal being promoted in Newcastle-under-Lyme Council’s latest Local Plan.
The Local Plan, set to cover projects until 2040, earmarks land for housing and other uses. The 173-acre plot of land being promoted is south east of Junction 16 of the M6 motorway near Audley, and could provide 2.4 million ft2 of warehouse space including multiple buildings in excess of 300,000ft2, with the largest building of approximately 1 million ft2, plus ancillary accommodation.
The council states in its consultation: “Within the last 5 years, over 40 enquiries have been made in relation to occupying the largest forms of ‘box units’ across the Stoke and Newcastle area with none resulting in a deal. This is because sites with the required characteristics, scale and location, are not available. This shows that demand for such units in the region is high.
“The site promoters consider that development of the site is deliverable from a technical perspective. There has been assessment of issues around highways and access, trees, ecology, ground and civil engineering, and landscape and visual effects.
“No issues have been identified that would prevent development at this site.”
However, the development would mean the loss of greenbelt land, which is why the majority of locals commenting are objecting. A Change.org petition against the proposal has secured 1,365 signatures so far.
Staffordshire is a key logistics location and only last month The Range agreed a deal for a 475,000ft2 warehouse at Acton Gate just one junction up from the Audley site, at Junction 13.
