A public inquiry will be held into a logistics firm's application to operate dozens of HGVs at the controversial Astley business park, the latest twist in the 'cruise ship' warehouse saga.
The office of the Traffic Commissioner said the two-day inquiry will consider the application of Whistl to house 60 HGVs and 95 trailers at its premises. The inquiry will be held on November 10 and 11 following opposition from dozens of nearby residents.
The commissioner has determined that 131 individuals across 96 properties near to the giant warehouse complex have valid objections. These individuals, termed 'representors', will be able to speak at the inquiry.
Whistl's operations under scrutiny
The company began trading at unit 2 at the Astley Business Park on July 20 after being granted an interim licence by the traffic commissioner regarding heavy goods vehicle movements.
This comes a month on from Whistl agreeing to stop overnight transport operations after admitting noise impacted hundreds of residents living nearby.
Other planning developments across Greater Manchester
Elsewhere, Bolton could see thousands of homes and industrial space built on three huge green belt areas. Bolton council wants to develop three areas which are currently green belt. Its draft local plan identifies the main areas where up to 14,052 new homes and a minimum of 135,099 sq m of industrial space is to be built before 2042.
Health Innovation Bolton (HIB) is the largest site earmarked to be taken out of the green belt. It is a large area of land between Royal Bolton Hospital and the M61 where 1,895 homes and 40,839 sq ft of employment space will be created.
Another current green belt area within the draft plans is described as the Blackrod employment cluster, which is green land close to the village's railway station. It is allocated for 44,800 sq m of employment space.
The third potential area of green belt to disappear is an extension to the Logistics North industrial park, just off the M61, near Over Hulton. That would accommodate between 30,000 to 80,000 sq m of employment space and possibly some housing.
Restaurant and mill plans
In Bury, Nando's has submitted plans for a new restaurant in Prestwich. The chain is looking to move into part of the former TGI Fridays venue in Valley Park Road. The building, which sits next to the town's Premier Inn, just off Junction 17 of the M60, has stood empty for a number of years, with the site falling into disrepair.
Nando's said its proposals 'dramatically' refresh and revitalise the appearance of the building through the creation of a 'high-quality' and 'vibrant' restaurant. A spokeswoman for the company said they hope the new restaurant will be open 'early next year'.
In Salford, a former cotton mill on the verge of collapse could soon be transformed into 64 new apartments, shops and cafes. Grecian Mill on Worsley Road North in Walkden is in a 'dilapidated and deteriorating' condition, with the structure suffering a partial collapse in 2021.
Now town planners Mialex Ltd have submitted plans to rescue and modernise the building, transforming the currently 'uninhabitable' upper floors into seven duplex and 55 residential apartments. The ground floor would hold around 135 sqm of commercial space, including a cafe and offices. The developer also plans to include an internal winter garden and external landscaping.
Tunnel strategy and nursery conversion
In Tameside, the steps towards making a Manchester to Sheffield tunnel a reality have been laid out. An organisation called Future Works has devised a strategy to build a 14-mile tunnel beneath the Peak District mountains. The scheme is estimated to cut journey times between Manchester and Sheffield by 30 minutes and take traffic away from the National Park.
This comes 10 years on from when the government originally looked into the idea. Stalybridge and Hyde MP, Jonathan Reynolds, believes Future Works' plan now needs to undergo work to understand if it is actually deliverable and the actual benefits it could bring.
In Wigan, a historic former pub building is to be transformed into a 52-child nursery. The Hesketh Arms, Shevington Moor, west of Standish, is a grade II listed building. Childcare company Beyond the Nest Standish has this week been granted planning permission to occupy the former pub which has been part-converted into a residential property. The nursery will provide up to 52 spaces for pupils with an age range from birth to four-years-old.
