Commercial-to-resi plans in Wigan passed by inspector

A decision to refuse St Modwen’s planning application to build 325 homes at Wigan Enterprise Park has been overturned by a planning inspector.

In January 2015, Wigan Council’s planning committee voted to maintain land at Wigan Enterprise Park for employment use and rejected a plan for housing St Modwen.

St Modwen applied for planning permission in 2013 to build 325 houses at land off Seaman Way, Ince. The industrial park totals 30 acres and is home to 25 businesses.

St Modwen then lodged an appeal, and a planning inspector has overruled the council’s decision.

Now planning permission has been granted, St Modwen said that it will commence site preparation works ready for the first phase of the development later this year.

Nick Whittingham, land director at St Modwen, said: “Following the submission of the outline planning permission in May 2013 it was disappointing that we were forced to go to appeal as the Planning Inspectorate agreed with all the points we put forward about the redevelopment of the site.

“However, we are pleased to finally receive planning permission to bring forward new housing on the industrial estate and provide up to 325 new family homes with substantial areas of open space and landscaping together with the opening up of the culverted water course.”