Eden approves Redhills industrial estate
Addis Town Planning’s outline application for an industrial estate with offices and warehouses on eight acres off Mill Lane in Redhills has been approved, despite its previous refusal back in August.
The green field plot is not allocated for development under Eden’s Local Plan. However, transport consultant WYG, on behalf of Addis, stated that the site could accommodate up to 100,000 sq ft of employment, industrial, and distribution space.
Addis Town Planning worked on behalf of Penrith-based developer Willan Homes & Development, which will speculatively build offices on the site dependent upon consumer interest.
Despite the lack of allocation, the council said it would give “favourable consideration” to any industrial proposals on unallocated sites near Penrith given the current land constraints at Eden Business Park.
Regardless of being recommended for approval, the proposals were initially refused back in August after the councillors cited concerns over impact on the highways network and the rural character of the area.
According to Addis: “The upgraded access would have good visibility in both directions. It would require the weight restriction on Mile Lane to be moved further northwest to allow HGVs to enter and exit the site. To prevent HGVs using Mile Lane it is proposed that there would be a ‘left in, right out’ restriction on large vehicles leaving the site.
“The impact of the proposal on the Slapestones Roundabout has been assessed and it is considered that even with the inclusion of the proposal, the roundabout would be well within its capacity.
“From an environmental perspective, the site is low value former agricultural land that provides little in the way of biodiversity. No protected species and habitats would be harmed by the proposal, and the site is so well contained that any impact on the landscape would be negligible and reducible through the final design of the scheme.”
