Cheshire West: Industrial units set for approval despite conservation fears

Cheshire West and Chester’s planning committee is recommended to approve an outline application by DM France-Hayhurst Charitable Trust for the two units on the Road One estate, Winsford, at land on the junction of Bostock Road.

Due to it being an outline application, details are still sketchy about the design and layout of the scheme, along with each unit’s eventual use and owner/operator, but the combined floor space would be up to 40,000 sq m.

The site is comprised of farmland and the surrounding land use to the north and east is predominantly agricultural land interspersed with residential properties, while the industrial estate lies to the south and west.

Vehicle access to the site is currently gained from Bostock Road, and while the vast majority of the site is within the Winsford settlement boundary, around one quarter of it is within an area designated as countryside. A small portion of the north eastern fringe of the site is within the Bostock Conservation Area.

Conservation Areas were introduced in 1967, with councils required to identify “areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance”.

Recommending approval, a report to the committee said: “Remembering the application is in outline form with all matters reserved for future consideration, save for access, there is little information before us about the nature of the end use of the site.

“However, the proposed development would be of economic benefit, creating new employment units that can be adapted to the changing needs of the end user.”

Three representations were received from the public citing issues such as concern over potential encroachment into the conservation area and noise and disturbance resulting from industrial traffic.

The council's planning committee meets on Tuesday where it is expected to approve the plans.