Retail unit and warehouses at Sovereign Industrial Park, Huyton

What was proposed

The application proposed a retail unit with external sales space, three industrial or warehouse buildings, access works, parking, landscaping and two substations.

“ERECTION OF 1NO. RETAIL UNIT (USE CLASS E(A) WITH EXTERNAL DISPLAY AREA , CAR PARKING AND SERVICING ARRANGEMENTS. PARTIAL DEMOLITION, RECONFIGURATION AND REFURBISHMENT OF EXISTING EMPLOYMENT BUILDING TO CREATE 3NO. INDUSTRIAL/ WAREHOUSE BUILDINGS WITH ANCILLARY OFFICES (USE CLASSES E(G)(III), B2 AND B8) WITH SERVICING AND CAR PARKING; RETENTION AND AMENDMENT OF EXISTING SITE ACCESSES ALONG WITH INTERNAL ESTATE ROADS; 2NO. SUBSTATIONS; LANDSCAPING; AND ASSOCIATED WORKS.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The 6.54-hectare vacant site formed part of the former distillery and contained three linked warehouses, hardstanding and boundary woodland.

“The application site comprises 6.54 hectares of land located to the western side of Wilson Road, Huyton, forming part of the former Sovereign Distillery site which has been vacant since 2022. The site currently comprises 3 warehouse buildings which are linked together forming an L shape with areas of hardstanding which comprised the former parking and loading/unloading areas.”

“The application site is bounded by existing residential development and phase 1 of the former Sovereign Distillery to the north (phase 1 which proposes the erection of two industrial units with the part demolition/remodelling of an existing industrial building to form 7 units within use classes E (G)(II) (III), B2 and B8) is currently under construction), a building and garden supplies business to the west, a public house, existing residential development and Cronton…”

Officer report

Earlier site applications

Earlier permissions covered a warehouse extension, amendments to that scheme and an automated storage extension, granted between 1999 and 2013.

“AMENDMENTS TO PLAN APP. APP/99/00279 (25,870SQM EXTENSION TO PROVIDE WAREHOUSE) COMPRISING ALTERATIONS TO ELEVATIONS OF THE FORMER TRADE TEAM BUILDINGS, AMENDMENTS TO LANDSCAPED EMBANKMENT, WIDENING OF ACCESS ROAD AND AMENDS TO LOADING”

“ERECTION OF EXTENSION TO SOUTH EAST ELEVATION OF EXISTING BUILDING TO FORM AUTOMATED STORAGE AREA FOR FINISHED PRODUCTS (USE CLASS B8) TOGETHER WITH ASSOCIATED WORKS.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the development benefits outweighed the retail sequential-test harm, with conditions and legal obligations.

“The proposed retail unit would fail to satisfy the sequential test as there is an available unit in Huyton Village Town Centre which could accommodate this part of the proposed development.”

“That Members delegate authority to the Head of Planning to grant planning permission, subject to: (i) the conditions set out in the attached schedule or such additional or amended conditions that the Head of Planning considers appropriate; (ii) the applicant entering into a legal agreement pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to secure planning obligations for the monitoring and implementation of a social value strategy , a financial…”

Officer report

What consultees said

Consultees raised no objections in principle, subject to conditions covering highways, drainage, landscaping, ecology, waste, lighting and travel plans.

“Local Highway Authority (Knowsley Council) - No objections subject to planning conditions relating to design of site access junctions, pedestrian access to the retail unit and Unit B, provision of cycle/motorcycle parking and submission of travel plans.”

“Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service - No objections subject to planning conditions securing a site waste management plan, reasonable avoidance measures for priority species, lighting scheme to minimise impacts on ecology & provision of bat boxes.”

Officer report

What residents said

Six objections and one comment raised concerns about traffic, noise, dust, air pollution, residential amenity, trees, wildlife and overdevelopment.

“Noise concerns from traffic driving close to existing houses including noise from wagons, unloading the wagons, starting cars, opening/closing car doors, shouting to each other which will destroy our environment in the house and outside the back garden. • The demolition/noise activity will impact ecosystems of existing wildlife.”

“The noise and pollution will cause stress, depression and bad health resulting in it being a private nuisance. • Proposed works will disturb pets and result in excessive dog barking. Dust/fumes would pollute fish ponds. • Loss of trees will enhance noise and pollution especially for residents working at home being a source of distraction particularly during the demolition, and reduce the natural habitat for wildlife.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant’s agent spoke in support during the three-minute period allowed for the decision-making process.

The committee’s decision

The committee granted planning permission subject to the listed conditions, a Section 106 agreement and possible refusal if the agreement was not completed within six months.

“(i) The conditions set out in the attached schedule, or such additional or amended conditions that the Head of Planning & Building Control in consultation with the Chair of Planning Committee considers appropriate.”

“(iii) In the event of the applicants not entering into a Section 106 agreement within 6 months of Planning Committee’s resolution to secure the obligations, that Planning Committee delegate authority to the Head of Planning & Building Control to refuse planning permission under delegated powers, on such grounds, should it be deemed that insufficient progress has been made in completing the s106 agreement.”

Minutes