Chorley gives green light for £100m next phase of Botany Bay industrial
FI Real Estate Management, which is already delivering 400,000 sq ft of employment space off Junction 8 of the M61, has secured consent to add another 310,000 sq ft on adjacent land.
Chorley Council yesterday gave FIREM planning approval to build 68 units ranging from 1,500 sq ft to 32,200 sq ft on the hill next to the historic Botany Bay mill building.
Tim Knowles, founder and managing director of Chorley-based FIREM, said: “Our multi-million-pound redevelopment of Botany sees us realise our vision to create a scheme built by the people of Lancashire for the people of Lancashire.
“We’re pleased Chorley Council has approved our application to create a further 309,060 sq ft of the highest quality commercial space with Botany Hill Business Park, generating a further 500 jobs in the process.”
He added: “Chorley has been our home for more than 40 years and we want to use our presence here to transform the area into a strategic employment site, catering for both expanding and relocating businesses.”
In all, the £220m redevelopment of Botany Bay comprises almost 1m sq ft of employment space across three phases: the 400,000 sq ft first phase, the 310,000 sq ft second, and the redevelopment of the mill building into an 85,800 sq ft office complex.
To learn more about phase two, search for application reference 22/01243/FULMAJ on Chorley Council’s planning portal.
The development was designed by MCAU and is being delivered by FI Construction, FIREM’s construction division.
The roads around Chorley are already gridlocked with traffic backing up on to the M61 at peak times. The town has seen a massive amount of house building without the necessary investment in infrastructure.
By D
An absolutely outrageous decision that flies in the face of strong opposition from local council tax-payers whose homes will be adversely affected by this monstrous development.
By Ada
Great work, keep Chorley building! Loads of local jobs created who’ll in turn put more money back into local businesses. Build more is what I say!
By Mr Fish
Hope the roads infrastructure is invested in and developed before thos goes ahead.
By Paul
This looks a poorly designed business park, no landscaping, lack of parking, over developed, no HGV turning areas and given their other Bay development likely to be poor quality bland industrial units. The infrastructure in the area has already failed and this scheme is likely to create further congestion and pollution
By Anonymous
Absolutely disgusted at the planning department. Disgusted is an under statement, ashamed, embarrassed, clueless all come to mind. And clearly no friends of Chorley.
Mr Fish!? Great Work!?
You clearly do not know Chorley or belong in Chorley, if indeed you are living in Chorley.
By Phil
Disgusting chorley council making ridiculous decisions once again. Big ugly buildings ruining the outlook for the existing houses. If I lived there I would be furious.
By Januce
What a poor decision we were told it would be a Shopping Complex when Botany Bay was abolished – it had been a Busy Retail Outlet and very well attended. Now we will just see another load of boring units
By Charlie
It’s a shame that this was rushed through without seriously looking at environmental factors and the Gateway to Chorley becoming a real eyesore. Money seems to have trumped common sense and the real needs of Chorleans for attractive canalside areas, leisure and traffic calming.
By Chorley Cake
Disgusting chorley council 😤 obviously don’t live near this field of cladding and ugly warehouses, congested traffic and noise pollution. Canal walks will never be the same, wildlife and green fields gone to houses and ugly units. Shame shame on you. Some pocket lining me thinks. Yes Mr Fish hope they build a wall in front of your house!!
By Anonymous
I know we need industrial units but need to be a bit more sympathetic to the Botany Bay history. It needs to have access for the public perhaps to an appropriate styled restaurant displaying its history and charm and the rest could be office space.
By Eddie Wilson
Again Chorley Planning clueless to what Chorley wants. Obviously they are get back financial incentives for passing this utter monstrosity. We are losing Chorley’s identity into an ugly industrial town. That is not what Chorley wants. I’ve now decided to leave Chorley. Enough is enough. It’s getting like ugly Westhoughton..
By Rachel