Question Reference Number 864694
What is the Council doing about the Astley warehouses? The scale, impact, and positioning of the warehouses have had a significant and lasting negative effect on local homes, including loss of light, increased noise, flooding concerns, and serious impacts on wellbeing and property values. There is a strong feeling within the community that the consultation process and decision-making did not adequately reflect the lived experience of those most affected. I would ask the Council to urgently acknowledge the harm being reported by residents and work with the community on meaningful mitigation, accountability, and support going forward.
Response from the Councillor Nazia Rehman, Executive Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Transformation
The Council recognises the concerns raised by residents in relation to the development at Astley Business Park, including issues around amenity, noise, drainage and the wider impact on the local community. We appreciate that developments of this scale can give rise to strong local feeling, particularly where residents feel their day-to-day experience has been affected.
Planning permission for the site was granted following consideration through the statutory planning process, which included consultation and assessment against relevant planning policies and considerations. Since then, the Council has continued to engage with residents and other stakeholders where concerns have been raised, and we remain committed to ensuring that the development operates in accordance with the conditions attached to its planning approval.
The Council has already published detailed information regarding the development, the issues raised by residents, and the outcomes of further review work, including an independent audit. This information is available on the Council’s website at the following links:
These updates set out the actions taken to date, including consideration of drainage and flooding matters, environmental controls, and ongoing monitoring and engagement with site operators.
The Council will continue to work with relevant partners, including the site operators and statutory bodies, to address any verified issues and to ensure compliance with planning and environmental requirements. Residents are encouraged to report specific concerns to the Council, via the relevant links in the above webpages, so they can be investigated and responded to appropriately.