FIREM to appeal rejection of 1.3m sq ft Chorley industrial

Councillors ignored professional advice to reject FI Real Estate Management’s plans for two large sheds on 100 acres of Green Belt close to Junction 3 of the M65, citing concerns about the scale of the development.

Chorley-based FIREM has confirmed that it will appeal the decision.

Tim Knowles, founder and managing director of FI Property Group, said: “We are surprised and disappointed by the committee’s decision, particularly given the chronic shortage of available commercial space of this scale in the region.

“This is a carefully considered scheme that will deliver hundreds of jobs and millions of pounds of economic value to the region. We are a long-term investor in Chorley and our commitment to the area remains unchanged. We will be appealing the decision.”

The development features plans for two units, one providing 533,000 sq ft and another offering 752,000 sq ft. Consent for the sheds was sought in outline while full permission was requested for enabling works.

The site is situated in the Green Belt and is not allocated for development in the emerging Central Lancashire Local Plan, however, the applicant argues – and officers agreed – the land should be considered Grey Belt and that there is a high level of unmet demand for large industrial units of this type in the region.

Chorley Council’s planning department had recommended the project for approval due to its job-spinning potential, high demand for this sort of accommodation, and projected £400m economic impact but councillors had other ideas.

One councillor said it was time to “take a stand” against this type of development while another cited the controversial Astley Business Park sheds in Wigan as an example of how industrial development can impact residents.

To learn more about the project, search for reference number 24/00847/OUTMAJ on Chorley Council’s planning portal.