465,000 sq ft Rochdale industrial row to be settled at inquiry

Trammell Crow Company has appealed to overturn the refusal of a logistics scheme in Heywood and is set to go head-to-head with fellow developer and objector Russell Homes at the inquiry.

Rochdale Council’s planning committee went against officer recommendations when it refused planning permission for the 465,000 sq ft redevelopment of the former Department for Work and Pensions’ distribution centre off Manchester Road last year.

The committee decided that the scheme “by virtue of its size, scale and form…would represent an overdevelopment of the site”.

A decision notice handed down also said the project would have “detrimental and unacceptable impacts on the noise environment and the visual amenity of surrounding residents, with particular regard to future residents adjacent to the site.”

Russell Homes has outline consent for the 318-acre South Heywood masterplan nearby and has been a vocal opponent throughout the planning process.

Russell claims the scheme, which features up to 1,000 residential units, would impact the values of the homes within its £400m masterplan, according to a statement of case prepared by Trammell Crow’s planning consultant Gerald Eve.

However, Trammell Crow argues that “large commercial units will be a feature of the landscape and as part of the views of the future residents, regardless of whether the appeal is allowed”.

The appeal will be held in early October. Trammell Crow will be represented by well-known planning barrister Christopher Katkowski KC. Giles Cannock KC will represent Russell Homes.