Warehouse near Britain’s most bashed bridge gets green light despite fears it would be a “monstrosity” to neighbours

Plans for a mega storage unit near Britain’s most bashed bridge have been given the green light – despite being dubbed a “monstrosity” by opponents.

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council (HBBC)’s planning committee met last week to decide whether to approve the 95,000 sqft warehouse, which would sit on land next to Hammonds Way and Nutts Lane in Hinckley.

The plan would have the industrial unit operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and would result in the loss of a 2.4-acre green space in the town.

Councillors previously told the applicant, Hinckley Investment LLP, to “look again” at a planning meeting in July because the building’s scale was affecting nearby residents.

Neighbours to the proposal also previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the warehouse would be “depressing” to look at if approved.

Documents show that Hinckley Investment LLP reduced the building’s height by 0.5 metres and redesigned the warehouse roof, prompting officers to recommend that the plan be approved.

The scheme returned to HBBC’s planning committee last Tuesday (October 20), where Lib Dem Cllr Ann Pendlebury, the ward councillor for the area, said the changes were “limited”.

She added: “It is unlikely to change the relationship between the building and the nearby residential properties.

“This [the building] will infringe substantially on the neighbourhood’s privacy and light. A number of residents work from home, so it will impact them”.

Lib Dem Cllr Scott Gibbens also told the committee he was “not happy with the application” before moving to refuse the application.

He added: “I’m not happy with this. I don’t think the people living opposite should be subjected to this monstrosity.

“Some of the plans show trees that are shown, but that’s 15 years down the line. So those trees are not going to have any softening impact for 15 years. They’ll have to look at a horrible grey wall in front of them.

“I also saw there are plans where there are lights at the side of the building. Not only will they get a great big building but they’ll have light at night they never had before”.

However, Ed Stacey, planning manager at HBBC, warned councillors that if it was refused, new planning guidance would mean the council would have to prove that the negative impacts of the scheme was “so strong” that it outweighed the positive impacts of the new building if an appeal was lodged.

He added: “What would be challenging is proving the harm is so great to warrant refusal.

“They [the applicant] have done an awful lot of work to prove that the guidance shows for many properties that the impact is acceptable.

“My officers have been comfortable making their recommendations, so it doesn’t outweigh [the positives]”.

Cllr Dr James Moore also said he agreed with Cllr Gibbens’ proposal to refuse the plan.

He added: “This building is twice the size of some of the trees. We’re talking about a 60 per cent loss of light for some of the properties.

“Not all of them, but a significant number of properties will be seriously affected by this. Would the officers be prepared to accept a 60 per cent loss of light to their homes?

“Probably not. There are strong common sense arguments to try and stop this”.

Despite some councillors’ concerns, the committee shot down a motion to refuse the application.

A motion to approve the application by Conservative Cllr Richard Allen was then put forward and approved.