Decision due on trampoline park project

Plans to convert a Washington warehouse into a 30,000 sq ft trampoline park look set to be refused over concerns that the unit being used for leisure purposes would be detrimental to the character of the industrial park.The Fun Shack Group submitted plans to bring its Jump 360 venture to Wearside’s Hertburn Industrial Park having enjoyed success at its first site in Stockton.If given the go-ahead, the applicant said about £1.8m will be invested to establish the 30,000 sq ft facility, while 41 jobs would also be created.However, Sunderland City Council was due to refuse the proposal last month after the use of the unit as a trampoline park was deemed to be “not consistent” with the list of appropriate land uses identified for Hertburn Industrial Park.A planning report also said there was “no evidence” that the host unit and neighbouring units are proving difficult to let.A decision was delayed to allow for the authority to ascertain further information regarding the nature of the interest shown in the unit during its marketing phase.This was subsequently provided by a prospective purchaser of the unit who owns an unnamed structural and general steel fabricators business.They said Jump 360 had advised that “there has been no interest from parties with engineering background” regarding the vacant unit.