Public concerns prompt review of Omega shed plans
A public consultation exercise will outline proposed changes to the delivery and scale of a £100m Asda logistics warehouse at the Omega South site in Warrington.
Permission for a 600,000 sq ft distribution facility on a 28-acre site was granted by Warrington Council in April following a joint application by Asda's developer, Bericote Properties, and Omega Warrington.
A newsletter being circulated to local homes outlines revised plans, including a 17,000 sq ft reduction in floor space and a lower roof.
It states: "Since the planning consent was granted by Warrington Council in April, the occupier has undertaken a further cost and space efficiency review.
"It has concluded that it is able to deliver a similar service on the site but with the building at a reduced scale.
"It was also felt that a further reduced scale would recognise the concerns raised about the original planning application by some local residents, who were concerned that the building was too tall.
"On this basis, Omega Warrington and Bericote Properties will, this week, be submitting a further, revised planning application to reduce the size of the approved logistics centre.
"The application will reduce the height of the building down to 31.5m high, compared to the 40m originally presented at the exhibitions and the 35m which was approved.
"The lower area of the warehouse will also reduce in height by 3m. The floor space will also reduce by just over 17,000 sq ft and the building will be delivered in two phases."
Omega Warrington is a joint venture between Miller Developments and KUC Properties, part of Royal Bank of Scotland.
The Asda shed will be the first building on the larger Omega South part of the Omega development and the fourth building at Omega.
The first three are set to make up Omega North, above the motorway, and are all either on site or due on site shortly for occupiers Brakes, 200,00 sq ft, Travis Perkins, 600,000 sq ft, and Hermes, 150,000 sq ft.
The revised Asda distribution facility application will be lodged shortly and will be subject to consultation for a three week period.
If its the one im thinking of there should be some trees to buffer it from the motorway too as the ones they are building now will surely distract motorists when there is some activity there?
By Mary Spring