By Liza Helps, Property Editor, Logistics Matters

THE MOVE is thought to have been prompted by the public outcry over the development of warehouses close to homes in Astley by developer PLP, with one subsequently let to Whistl, which residents say is making too much noise at night.

Wigan Council was vilified in the local and national press for not providing adequate homeowner consultation prior to  approving the planning application to develop the site.

Wigan Council’s cabinet voted to exclude four sites from its Draft Local Plan which include sites at Bridgewater West in Astley where PLP was putting forward a 500,00 ft2 plus logistics scheme alongside the development of 300 homes; land west of Winwick Lane Lowton being promoted by Tritax Big Box for 2.4 million ft2 of logistics space as part of its overall 8 million ft Intermodal Logistics Park North scheme which would accommodate a Rail Freight Interchange.

In addition ,Wigan Council is also dropping a site for the extension of Moss Industrial Estate in Leigh, earmarked for 480,000 ft2 of warehouse space and Harworth’s land north of the M6 Junction 26 which could secure 1.6 million ft2 of industrial and logistics space. All the sites are in the greenbelt.

The council has stated that ‘the borough had sufficient alternative land supply to meet its employment and housing targets’.