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Fears of warehouse 'tsunami' as another is approved

Nadia Lincoln,Local Democracy Reporting Serviceand
Louise Parry
News imageAnt Saddington/BBC An aerial view of Thrapston and the current industrial estate, which consists of several very large white or pale blue warehouses. In the foreground are brown fields and in the background, green fields with hedgerows.Ant Saddington/BBC
Saica Pack's new warehouse would be built on a field adjacent to the existing Haldens Parkway Industrial estate

Plans to extend a warehouse facility in the countryside have been approved, despite concerns of "an unstoppable tsunami of warehouse developments".

Saica Pack was given permission by Reform-led North Northamptonshire Council to erect a large storage building next to its existing warehouse in Thrapston.

The company, which produces corrugated packaging, said it would no longer need to transport the finished goods to other sites in Corby and Sywell.

However, local campaign group Staunch opposed the development, which is next to two much larger proposed logistics parks.

"The whole site is bigger than Thrapston itself," a spokesperson for Staunch said of the three proposed developments.

"It is meant to be done in growth towns like Rushden and Corby."

News imageStaunch/Google A map showing an aerial view of the town of Thrapston and village of Titchmarsh. Between them are several fields, with the industrial estate marked out in white. A blue square shows where the Saica warehouse would go, and two other adjacent areas mark out eight large warehouses - which would triple the size of the existing industrial estate.Staunch/Google
Staunch says the blue square shows the site of the new Saica Pack warehouse, with two larger planned developments on either side

The proposed building would provide 14,000 sq m of storage space, linking to the existing warehouse via an underground tunnel.

Allan Foakes, regional director at Saica Pack, said bringing the warehouse "under one roof" would improve efficiency and significantly reduce vehicle movements.

He told the planning committee the Spanish company began its operations in Thrapston in 1996 and its "absolute desire" was to remain and grow in the area.

He added: "Over the past 22 years, I've had the privilege of working alongside multiple generations of local families.

"The proposal might well ensure you can continue to provide skilled labour employment for the community for many years to come."

The application received 40 objections from members of the public.

Thrapston independent councillor Joseph Garner also suggested that, along with neighbouring sites, it was part of "an unstoppable tsunami of warehouse developments".

News imageStaunch A large group of people standing holding a green banner. They are outside and are mostly wearing green T-shirts.Staunch
Campaign group Staunch says the combined developments would harm wildlife including lapwings and golden plovers

The site is near Titchmarsh Nature Reserve, a wetland of international significance.

Staunch argued that the Habitat Regulation Assessment submitted by the council was incorrect, and asked councillors to defer the application.

"Rushing to meet an administrative deadline does not exempt you from environmental law," it said.

"It guarantees an immediate and robust challenge from Staunch via another judicial review in the High Court."

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