Campaigners' joy after Amazon warehouse plans near Cleckheaton refused

Around 2,000 people had objected to the proposals for a huge warehouse with 24/7 operation on a site near junction 26 of the M62 at Chain Bar.

Residents in nearby Scholes feared that as well as vastly increased amounts of traffic, they would be subjected to unacceptable levels of noise, light, and air pollution.

Kirklees planning officers had recommended the plans for approval, saying the investment in the area would outweigh any of the problems it created.

But after members of the Council’s Strategic Planning Committee voted to refuse the scheme, the campaign group set up to oppose it reacted with delight.

An artist's impression of the plans for an Amazon distribution centre in Scholes (Image: Amazon)

A spokesman for Save Our Spen said the decision yesterday (March 15) was a “total vindication” for their campaign against what was always “an inappropriate planning application”.

“It shows what can be achieved by a community when faced, with on the face of it, impossible odds. Some people said it was a done deal. Some people involved in this application thought we would run out of steam and just go away and the application would pass. They were so wrong.”

SOS thanked the residents of Scholes and the wider community for their support, including the donations to a crowdfunding campaign that helped the group obtain technical expertise.

They added that although they may have won this battle, “the war may not be over just yet” as they “know there is still a possibility of an appeal being submitted by the applicant”.

“However, we are confident that the weight of evidence we have submitted and the number of reasons given to refuse this application will stand up to any challenge the applicants wish to make in the planning appeal. We are prepared for the next stage.”

Local MP Kim Leadbeater, who had backed the Save Our Spen group, said she was delighted that the committee rejected the plans.

She added: “We must now await Amazon’s reaction to their failure to win approval but for now the residents around the site can sleep more easily at night and continue to enjoy the benefits of living in this attractive corner of the constituency.”

Speaking at the meeting, she made her views clear she said that there was no dispute that the site is suitable for development and economic regeneration is needed along with good, well-paid, skilled jobs.

"But does an Amazon distribution centre on this scale meet those objectives? I am more convinced today than ever that the answer is a resounding no.” 

The layout of the proposed Amazon distribution centre in Scholes (Image: Amazon)

Local councillor Kath Pinnock also spoke at the meeting saying that most people accept the reality that the site is allocated and will be developed - but that doesn't mean just any plans should be accepted.

"Indeed, the officer's recommendation for this application, in his words, is a finely balanced one.

“The reason for that professional view is that this application has many negative aspects, many of which are not capable of being mitigated to the extent that they should be. This particularly applies to landscape and residential amenity.”

“The report is giving substantial weight to the benefit of job creation, which has resulted in the many negatives being downplayed. Of course, job creation is important, but they should be assessed not just by numbers, but also by quality, training and progression prospects for everyone."

During the planning meeting a number of representatives spoke on behalf of the online retail giant.

David Benfell, the general manager of a similar-sized Amazon centre in Wakefield, described how the Cleckheaton centre would offer a breadth of roles for local people to apply for, including robotics engineers, team leaders and people who pick, pack and ship customer orders.

He described the development as a "highly-automated fulfilment centre" bringing ground-breaking technology.

Sally Miles, planning agent for the application, added that following queries there had been positive amendments to the scheme, including an offer to reduce the use of Whitechapel Road with night-time restrictions.

“We believe that the final proposals before you today represent a well-considered scheme which meets a modern operator's requirements and responds to the site constraints and site context and minimises impacts.”

“The proposed development represents a significant opportunity to optimise the potential of this employment allocated site, which once developed will provide a significant boost to the local economy.”