Warehouse scheme will destroy 10,000 trees

A large warehousing scheme which would uproot more than 10,000 trees is set to get approval from councillors.

Three new warehouses are planned off Isherwood Road, in Carrington, Trafford, but they would destroy woodland habitats and severely impact roads, planning documents have revealed.

The Wain Estates project would cover 30 hectares, with about a fifth of that established woodland, including natural habitats for birds, bats, hedgehogs and amphibians.

However planning officers have recommended councillors on Trafford Council back the scheme despite 60 objections. The council said it would provide 1,000 new jobs.

Trafford Council said the scheme would provide "significant" and "unique" benefits, including a £100m boost to the local economy.

Officers concluded: "Granting planning permission [...] is a breach of the development plan, and a significant one.

"However, there seems to be no obvious alternative to unlock an allocation which has made glacial progress over the last 30 years [...]

"All other interventions taken thus far have failed, including previous policy frameworks. In order to deliver the allocation, it is clear that a major public intervention is now needed. This is that intervention."

But, more than 10,000 trees will be uprooted if the scheme goes ahead, with the scale of the destruction resulting in "significant harm" to biodiversity.

In addition, the planned development would add up to 229 journeys to the road network in the morning rush hour and 225 at the evening peak.

Councillors will meet next week to debate the scheme.

If they back it, it will be delegated to officers for final sign-off once legal agreements are worked up between Trafford council and Wain Estates.

The project, brought forward by Wain Estates, would deliver up to 95,000 sq m of employment space over more than 30 hectares.

Much of the land is brownfield - previously developed - and formerly home to a petrochemical site.

Planned new planting could take 40 years to become fully established.

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