Warehouse given green light

OBJECTIONS: Primrose Bank, near the site

PLANS have been passed to build a large warehouse despite objections from more than 40 residents.

Housing association First Choice Homes Oldham will occupy a vacant brownfield site to the north of Primrose Bank for a warehouse and office development.

People complained on the grounds of increased traffic, parking, road safety, noise and loss of privacy. But construction firm Meridian Development Company secured permission for the build, at the junction between Minor Road and Hoyle Avenue.

Plans for the 0.79-hectare site came before the planning committee in July when the applicant was asked to provide additional information about access, pollution and noise.

Queries included why access could not be gained from the north side of the site, what measures would be taken to minimise pollution, whether plans could be altered to minimise noise and what the expected vehicle movements would be each hour.

Michael Brown, on behalf of the applicant, said: "We could not extend the road at Minor Street by four metres to create another access point.

"This would have been a six-figure sum.

"Drivers are forced to turn off their engines when they are stationary, so there should not be any pollution from stationary lorries."

The application was approved on the condition that the opening hours be put back to 8am from the proposed 7.30am start.

An amendment to increase the hours sought by the applicant was considered "completely unreasonable" by residents, a planning report said. Objector Abdul Bashir said: "The key issue is safety and the impact on quality of life as a result of increased traffic.

"There will be noise and air pollution as well as a loss of privacy."

A gym, barber's shop, restaurant and other retail units are situated nearby, as well as houses and a public play area.

The building will be made of dark red brickwork covered in metal panels, with the roof coated light grey.