Retailer’s plans for huge new warehouse set for approval

Plans from a major retailer to expand its West Yorkshire operations with a new 1.2 million sq ft warehouse and distribution unit look set to get the green light later this week (7 July 2022).Next submitted a full planning application to Wakefield Council last year for development on land south of Field Lane in South Elmsall.Next currently occupies two units on Elmsall Way, north of Field Lane, and secured planning permission in 2020 for a new 852,000 sq ft facility, known as E3.The latest application seeks approval for the construction of a fourth warehouse and distribution unit, known as E4, measuring about 1.21 million sq ft on a 77-acre site.Alongside the warehouse, the plans also include a separate decanting building, office and welfare accommodation, and a gatehouse.An 863-space car park (incorporating 41 accessible bays, 86 EV charging bays and 345 bays with potential for future EV connection) would be created, as well as a 37-space motorcycle park, 225-space cycle park and 125-space HGV trailer park.A bridge would also be constructed linking the E4 development to the E3 building to the north.It has been estimated that the development would initially support the creation of about 500 jobs, potentially rising to 1,000 in the longer term.The scheme represents a capital investment of about £125m and could generate an estimated gross value added (GVA) to the economy of more than £32m per annum.The application will go before the council’s planning committee on 7 July and is recommended for approval, subject to conditions and the signing of a legal agreement, in an officer’s report prepared for the meeting.The report said: “The applicant has explained that the development is required to accommodate projected growth in their ecommerce business which cannot be met by their existing South Elmsall warehouse facilities, which are operating at capacity, and that the additional warehouse space which will be required to service the anticipated level of growth significantly exceeds the additional capacity which will be introduced through the E3 development, necessitating the development of E4.”The applicant wishes to meet the project growth by expanding their existing warehousing operation in South Elmsall rather than building a new unit elsewhere and considers that doing so will bring significant additional benefits in terms of efficiency of operation/synergies which could not be achieved elsewhere.”If the committee votes in favour of approval, the decision would be subject to a 21-day period of consultation with the Secretary of State/ National Planning Casework Unit as the scheme represents Green Belt Development.The project team includes Q+A Planning, pHp Architects, Stephenson Halliday, BSG Ecology, Adept Consulting, Land Drainage Consultancy, Prospect Archaeology, NoiseAssess, Air Quality Consultants, Bryan G Hall, NG Bailey, Yonder Consulting, Wharncliffe Trees and Woodland consultancy and Lithos Consulting.