West Lancs to reject 13,800 sq ft cosmetic factory for second time
Cerberus Cosmetics is awaiting the authority’s verdict on its proposals to move to a larger Green Belt site off Southport Road, one year after the previous application was dismissed at appeal.
West Lancashire Council is expected to reject the manufacturers plans to move from its existing premises in the nearby Vicarage Barn to a larger facility in Scarisbrick next Thursday.
Cerberus Cosmetics manufactures skincare and cosmetic products for brand owners and hotel chains across the world, and wants to build a 13,800 sq ft cosmetic factory to facilitate business.
Evolve Architectural Design has drawn up the plans for the factory, which would provide 8,400 sq ft of manufacturing and storage space on the ground floor, with 5,400 sq ft of laboratories and offices upstairs.
At present, the company has had to refuse work due to the inability to accommodate visits at its current site. The move would allow the firm to manufacture larger quantities and contribute more to the local economy, according to a planning statement submitted by PWA Planning.
West Lancashire Council refused Cerberus’ plans in 2021 due to concerns surrounding the affect of the development on the Green Belt as well as nearby heritage assets.
At appeal, the Planning Inspectorate stated that the building “would have significant advantages for the business with further benefits for the local economy.” However, the inspector noted that the company had provided a lack of information regarding alternative sites.
Fresh proposals are the same in design as those previously-rejected, yet with more detail on those sites and financial information.
In addition to PWA Planning, the project team also includes Vectos, TPM Landscape, Martin Environmental Solutions, and Reford Consulting Engineers.
To find out more about the project, search for application number 2020/1092/FUL on West Lancashire Council’s planning portal.
The UK needs to nurture, encourage and retain manufacturing not scare it off. Seems a complete joke for WLC not to want this or to support and find the best way forward that benefits Cerberus and the local economy. Alternatively move to Liverpool and benefit from freeport tax and planning.
By GetItBuilt!
Move to Greater Manchester where rate-paying makers and well-paid work is welcome.
By Anonymous
They want to build in green belt on good agricultural land that helps feed the nation. There is available commercial land in nearby Burscough.
By Anonymous
You do realise that all of the land around Burscough was once green belt, don’t you?
By Anonymous
Plenty of industrial space in nearby Burscough available
By Geoff
The industrial estate in Burscough is on an old airfield
By Geoff
More jobs council not bothered rather sell land to house builders typical
By Brendan comerford
I’m all for businesses growing and expanding but at the detriment of the green belt on a virgin field?….a cosmetics facility should be somewhere more suited with adequate logistics facilities that won’t impact neighbours and the surrounding area.
Looked at the planning documents both this one and the previously appealed refusal, is it any wonder they want to build on this land when their family owns it…their names are linked in the planning docs…..say no more.
By Anonymous
Yes refuse , theres to much green belt being used , there must be an alternative ?
By Nigel Brown
Look at the local plan map. Despite being located on part of the old airfield, the current perimeter of Burscough Industrial Estate is surrounded by Green Belt and ‘Virgin’ fields. It seems some people claiming to want to protect the green belt are actually ok with it, so long as it’s not their local green belt. I mean, do you honestly think just telling every company (that have constraints you aren’t privy to), to ‘just go to Burscough’ is an actual resolution? Soon you’ll be wondering why the industrial estate is on your doorstep and you’ll likely be out complaining about that, too.
Whilst green belt has some benefits, it is completely outdated and all it does is put a strangle hold on cities, driving up the cost of properties (and therefore the cost of living), which is another bone of contention that the same sort of people complain about. I mean, who’s going to provide the jobs that pay you? I would put good money on this not even been discussed if it were ‘just’ an application for two or three houses, which in actual fact provide little to no benefit. To my mind, some people just like to have something to moan about, even if their arguments lack substance. Perhaps it’s jealousy… I mean, why else would an individual with next to no understanding regarding business operations and their benefits to the community have such a negative mindset. It’s simple. Without entrepreneurs there’d be no jobs for you, and since Brexit, which at its core was a protectionist position, we’ve done nothing to help protect rural businesses, nor UK based manufacturers. The lifeblood of our country.
By Anonymous