By Liza Helps, Property Editor, Logistics Matters

THE 3PL will still continue to operate at the site during the day but has agreed to stop transport operations between midnight and 6am. Lorries and transport vehicles will not move in or out of the yard during these hours. However, the warehouse operations inside the building will still run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Whistl moved to Astley Business Park in July 2026 to upgrade its depot facilities from its previous site in Bolton and retain as many employees as possible. It took a 15-year lease on the 140,000 ft2 Unit 2 at Astley Business Park. It currently processes around 17 million items through PLP Astley per week

The site has caused a huge amount of controversy ever since construction started on site with local residents complaining about inadequate planning consultation, [upheld in an independent report that noted that while Wigan Council followed standard national procedure evaluating and approving PLP’s proposal for the warehouse complex, in 2024, however the developer’s pre-application consultation was “wholly inadequate” and Wigan Council should have been more robust].

In addition, residents had to deal with  flooding during development and noise and disturbance during construction and now operation of the four  unit 350,000 ft2 scheme that is PLP Astley. Local and national press have reported on the issues whereby the scheme has been described as ‘monstrous’ and ‘soul destroying’. The plight of the residents has been championed by local councillors and MPs and has led to the formation of the Astley Warehouse Action Group.

Regarding the noise complaints following its occupation of Unit 2 Whistl issued a statement which said: “On Wednesday 26th August, we met locally with the Astley Warehouse Action Group and Wigan Council to discuss residents’ concerns and agree a long-term solution. We put forward a proposal to address the residents’ noise concerns, which residents had the opportunity to review and provide feedback on.

“We have now received this initial feedback and are grateful for the considerations that they have given to our suggestions. The residents have agreed to our proposal to pause nighttime transport operations in and from the yard at PLP Astley, commencing at midnight on Monday 7th September into Tuesday morning, seven days a week, whilst we work on measures to reduce noise from our operations below the appropriate threshold. The processing of mail and parcels will continue within the depot and we will adjust our transport operations to ensure that we meet our commitments to our customers.

“One of the key actions we have taken is to commission a detailed sound study by an independent expert. The expert will produce a report recommending enhancements to existing mitigations and new measures, which we will act upon in full. We are committed to sharing these findings with local Astley residents.

Whiel waiting for the report  Whistl has implemented some immediate noise mitigation measures, including the use of quieter on-site vehicles such as shunt units to move trailers around in our yard; the installation of external and internal monitors to track noise allowing the on-site team immediately to address any noise incidents at source and in real time day and night.

In addition, Whistl has eliminated refuelling at night, prevented fuel tankers from accessing the site at night and has changed its operational practices to ensure a minimum of activity occurs at night, and any activity takes place as far from residents as possible. It has also set up a direct access mechanism for residents to report noise infractions and is taking practical steps to reduce the impact of the site on nearby homes including the installation of window frosting and automated blinds on the side of the building facing houses to help limit light spill. And it is also exploring the option of planting mature evergreen holly bushes to provide greenery and improve the appearance of the site for neighbouring residents.