Five industrial units at Unit 44 Yardley Business Park, Miles Gray Road, Basildon

The site and surroundings

The 3.08-hectare site lies within the Pipps Hill Industrial Area and currently contains a vacant warehouse, car wash, undercroft unit and office building.

“The site currently comprises a large vacant warehouse building (Unit 44), a car wash operation and associated building (Unit 43), an undercroft unit set below the warehouse (Unit 1) and the office building of Konica Minolta Business Solutions (Unit 35).”

“The surrounding area is generally commercial in character with units to the west and south of the site occupied by retail and trade operations whilst to the east, set at a lower level due to changes in levels across the site, there are several units below the eastern end of the existing warehouse (Units 2-11 Yardley Business Park), with the units accessed from Luckyn Lane.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

Earlier permissions included business, industrial, warehouse, car wash and related uses, including approval for redevelopment of Units 1–11 and 44 in 2018.

“The following applications have been determined in respect of the application site:”

“BAS/0427/00 Rebuilding part of front elevation, cladding all exposed elevations, parking and access yard Granted 28 June 2000 BAS/0871/00 B1, B2, B8 Units, Car Wash and A3 Units Granted 20 January 2001 18/00082/OUT Redevelopment for Class B8 to include warehousing, builders’ merchants, light industrial, self-storage and trade counter together with A3 (Coffee pod outlet or similar) with car parking and pedestrian and vehicular access for Units 1-11 and Unit Granted 27 June…”

Officer report

Consultation and public response

consultees raised no objections subject to conditions or obligations, while 63 notified neighbouring properties produced no replies.

“Essex County Council Place Services Ecology Section - No ecological objections to the proposed development subject to conditions securing:”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant’s agent spoke in support, describing the applicant’s local investment, the existing unit’s obsolescence and around 40 additional jobs.

What members considered

Members considered the obsolete existing buildings, the proposed design, reduced floorspace, energy measures, economic benefits and the absence of identified negative impacts.

“It was noted that existing buildings could not be made compliant with modern warehouse requirements and were therefore unfit for purpose. The appearance of the proposed new buildings was in keeping with other commercial and industrial building in the area with an overall reduction of floor space. An energy strategy would be a condition of any consent.”

“The officer considered that the benefits of the scheme included provision of modern industrial/warehouse development and economic benefits in the form of construction jobs, employment and skills training and local economic spend. No negative impacts had been identified.”

Minutes