Logik puts forward land argument to unlock 1.8m sq ft Lancs industrial

Three sites totalling 70 acres in Samlesbury near Preston should be classed as grey belt not Green Belt, according to the developer.

Logik submitted its plans for the 1.8m sq ft Cuerdale scheme almost three years ago but has reached an impasse with South Ribble Council due to the site’s current Green Belt designation.

Logik’s land, which forms part of the wider Cuerdale Garden Village allocation, was originally earmarked for release from the Green Belt in the emerging Central Lancashire Local Plan.

However, South Ribble, Preston, and Chorley councils are now progressing a plan that does not propose any Green Belt release whatsoever.

The developer’s planning consultant AshtonHale claims that the proposed industrial scheme sits on land that meets the criteria for Labour’s newly introduced grey belt policy and should therefore not be regarded as inappropriate development.

The term grey belt, introduced into policy last December, refers to land currently afforded Green Belt status that does not contribute to the core purposes of the Green Belt.

Logik’s position in South Ribble is backed up by “robust legal advice” from leading planning barrister Christopher Katkowski, who found that the sites’ contribution to the core principles of the Green Belt was “weak”.

Katkowski’s research found that the land does little to prevent urban sprawl, prevent towns merging into one another, or preserve the setting and special character of historic towns.

Logik also asserts that the scheme would help meet an unmet demand for employment space in the area. The three plots are located close to the site of the proposed National Cyber Force Campus and Samlesbury Enterprise Zone. Logik hopes its proposals can capitalise on the economic opportunities in the area and the developer claims its scheme could create  2,400 jobs, £110m GVA, and £5.5m in business rates annually.

Logik is committed to working with South Ribble Council with the desire to see the revised application approved locally. Even if South Ribble Council does not agree that the land should be classed as grey belt, the developer maintains that very special circumstances still exist for the scheme to be approved.

Neil Spencer, director at Logik, said: “Logik Strategic Land continues to strongly believe in the opportunity presented by the Cuerdale Employment Sites to provide much needed employment in the borough and, importantly, ensure that the transformational benefits presented by the National Cyber Force Campus are captured locally.

“We have held positive discussions with potential occupiers and local politicians who are keen to see this scheme finally be realised. We hope to work positively with South Ribble Council to allow this revised application to be determined as soon as possible.”

The scheme, designed by DAY Architectural, forms part of the 1,300-home Cuerdale Garden Village, being led by Story Homes. Urban Green is the landscape architect and landscape planner.

As well as industrial accommodation in a range of unit sizes, Logik’s is also proposing several other uses including 10,000 sq ft of retail – down from 50,000 sq ft in the 2023 application – and hotels. The 80,000 sq ft of offices originally proposed have been removed from the most recent plans.

To learn more about the project, search for reference number 07/2023/00035/OUT on South Ribble Council’s planning portal.