£100m Manchester airport cargo centre ‘will ruin our homes’ say opponents
Residents living near the proposed site of a new £100m World Logistics Hub at Manchester Airport have objected to it saying it could ruin their local area, destroy the countryside and devalue their homes. The airport has submitted an outline planning application for the ‘world-class’ cargo centre, which will form part of the £650m Airport City project – and claims it will create more than 1,800 jobs. The plans are for multiple freight units with 1.4 million sq ft of warehouse space, with 24-hour operations, creating considerable noise and light pollution on the surrounding area. The centre will provide cargo space for freight companies, with access to air and motorway links. its construction could start by the end of 2012.
August 31, 2012 ( Manchester Evening News)
Residents living near the proposed site of a new £100m logistics hub at Manchester Airport have objected to it saying it could ruin their local area.
Airport bosses have submitted an outline planning application for the ‘world-class’ cargo centre, which will form part of the £650m Airport City project and is expected to create more than 1,800 jobs.
But now people living nearby have slammed the plans, claiming the facility would destroy the countryside and devalue their homes.
Anna Walsham lives on nearby Sunbank Lane, Altrincham. She moved there two and a half years ago and fears the development will wreck her ‘beautiful’ surroundings.
Anna said: “If these plans go ahead, a large green space will be destroyed, and replaced by multiple freight units with 1.4m sq ft of warehouse space, delivering 24-hour operations and imposing considerable noise and light pollution on the surrounding area.
“As a resident on Sunbank Lane I am also concerned about a severe increase in local traffic, both on the small rural lane and surrounding suburban areas.”
The ‘world-class’ centre will house cargo space for freight companies, offering businesses unrivalled access to air and motorway links.
It is hoped that construction could begin before the end of the year with the project expected to create more than 1,800 permanent jobs over the next 10 to 15 years, in addition to construction posts.
It will form the southern part of the Airport City’s Enterprise Zone, which was unveiled by the government last March.
Anna added: “Property value is a secondary concern – but that is obviously an issue.
“We are more concerned about the destruction of the beautiful countryside and also the safety of our children if the roads become busier and therefore more dangerous.
“I believe the only real benefits for this development are for the airport, to the detriment of the local and wider community.”
A Manchester Airport spokesperson, said: “The proposals to create a World Logistics Hub will deliver a world-class sustainable expansion of our existing cargo centre attracting new businesses to the region generating much-needed economic growth and new jobs for local people.
“Almost a third of the site will be devoted to extensive new landscaping and natural habitats. We have also completed a detailed transport assessment and agree that traffic should be kept to main roads and away from the houses on Sunbank Lane – we would be happy to talk to any concerned residents further about access to the site.”
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See earlier:
Manchester Airport unveils plans to concrete former greenbelt land with ‘World Logistics Hub’
August 19, 2012 Manchester Airport has announced plans to concrete over former greenbelt land (removed form the greenbelt in July 2012) around Sunbank Lane to make way for a ‘World Logistics Hub’. The area currently contains residential houses and green fields and also borders onto an SSSI. The plans involve construction of around 43 warehouses and office units of various sizes on land adjacent to the A538, as well as 1,473 car parking spaces, and form part of the wider Airport City Enterprise Zone. Though the airport anticipates many jobs being created over 15 years, it is likely many of these are jobs displaced from elsewhere as businesses relocate due to lower business rates. The Airport have published an ‘informal’ consultation document and intend to submit a formal planning application during August with a 21 day consultation. Click here to view full story…
Manchester’s £650m Airport City master plan unveiled
January 12, 2012 Manchester Airports Group has produced its plans for an 150 acre Airport City , close to Manchester Airport. In April 2011 Government announced that Manchester Airport would be one of the first four Enterprise Zones, with Airport City at the core of the zone. The Airport City (also elsewhere called an Aerotropolis) would be in two zones, one with hotel, office, retail and advanced manufacturing space, and the other focusingn on freight and logistics. MAG will submit a planning application within weeks for the scheme’s main link road, with work set to start by spring and due for completion in 12-15 months. The rest of the building will take several years. MAG hopes to attract global businesses to work in their airport city, and create a project to compete with other locations in Barcelona, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, Dusseldorf and Heathrow. Click here to view full story…