Inquiry will decide fate of 1.3m sq ft Chorley industrial
FI Property Group has made good on its promise to appeal the rejection of two large sheds on 100 acres of Green Belt near Stanworth.
Chorley Council’s planning committee ignored professional advice to reject FI Property Group’s plans for 1.3m sq ft of employment space close to Junction 3 of the M65 this summer, citing concerns about the scale of the development.
The developer has now lodged its appeal with the Planning Inspectorate. FI says the scheme could generate £44m a year for the local economy and accommodate 1,100 jobs.
Other benefits of the proposal include upgraded transport links and 80 acres of enhanced wildlife habitat, according to the developer.
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.
Tim Knowles, founder and managing director of FI Property Group, said: “Stanworth is about more than building a large warehouse. It is about what this investment could mean for people who live and work in Chorley, Blackburn and the communities around the M65.”
“We recognise the scale of Stanworth and the different views that come with a development of this size. We have continued to review the proposals and believe they can provide much-needed employment and investment while also delivering improvements that local people can see and use.”
He added: “Planning officers recommended the application for approval before the committee refused it in June. We have submitted our appeal to make the case for Stanworth based on the evidence and the long-term opportunities it could create.”
Plan Red is advising on planning matters and DMWR Architects is leading on design. Wardell Armstrong, HCUK Group, JLL, PGLA, and UES are also on the project team.
To learn more about the project, search for reference number 24/00847/OUTMAJ on Chorley Council’s planning portal. A date for the appeal has not yet been set.
Chorley-based FIREM already has one large scheme underway on its home patch; the 1m sq ft, three-phase redevelopment of Botany Bay off Junction 8 of the M61.
FIREM is expanding rapidly. As well as the 2.3m sq ft of new-build accommodation it is delivering in Chorley, the firm also has a large presence on Wrexham Industrial estate, amassing a 3.1m sq ft portfolio.
Nationally, FIREM’s portfolio spans 15m sq ft.
