Families have been left horrified after 60-foot tall warehouses were built metres from their homes.
Residents in Tyldesley, Wigan, branded the colossal steel frames ‘monstrous’ as they became the latest structures to be installed at a 350,000 sq ft industrial site.
Plans from developer PLP show the enormous complex will eventually host four warehouses, with the council agreeing to a maximum height of 18.3m (60ft) for two of the buildings.
Delivery giant Whistl has already snapped up one of the huge sheds, signing a 15-year deal for the unit.
But locals living in the shadow of the behemoths are less than impressed, saying it feels like a ‘cruise ship’ has landed in their back gardens.
John Peters, 71, said: ‘It’s a total shock when you walk out of the door. The enormity of the thing just strikes you. It shouldn’t be there.’
The retired teacher, who has lived on the estate since 1978, said his dreams of a peaceful retirement have been ‘shattered’ by the arrival of the structure so close to his home.
He also complained about the way residents were informed about the project.
Residents branded the colossal steel frames, pictured, ‘monstrous’ as they became the latest structures at a 350,000 sq ft industrial site
Mr Retford pictured in his garden with his wife Carol. He said he no longer sits in the garden thanks to the ‘profound’ impact of the structure
People in Tyldesley, Wigan, including Steve Retford, pictured, have been left horrified after 60-foot tall warehouses were built just metres from their homes
‘A letter was sent out to 90 residents, but I don’t know how they selected those residents because some of the people who back onto the site didn’t get anything,’ Mr Peters added.
‘It was just completely random.’
A campaign group has been set up to fight the development, with more than 200 people attending a recent meeting.
Other families are now tempted to move away from the area but have been left concerned about the structure’s impact on property values.
Paula Boardman, 47, said: ‘It’s quite upsetting, because we used to have such a lovely view. We knew this was going to be built, but we thought it was going to be a lot smaller.
‘As soon as the framework went up, everyone realised the height of it – it’s humungous. I’m worried it’s going to take all our sunlight.
‘It’s like a cruise ship at the back of our garden. Even if we wanted to move, I think the value of the house has gone down.’
Mrs Boardman, who lives with her husband and two kids in a house that backs onto the imposing warehouse, added that she is worried a dip in her flooring and a crack in the wall in her home could be related to the warehouse’s size.
Joanne Gerrard pictured on her terrace just metres from the warehouse. Plans from developer PLP show the enormous complex will eventually host four of these warehouses
The council has agreed to a maximum height of 18.3m (60ft) for two of the buildings (pictured: John Peters gazes up at the frame)
Delivery giant Whistl has already snapped up one of the huge sheds, signing a 15-year deal for the unit
A campaign group has been set up to fight the development, with more than 200 people attending a recent meeting
Care worker Danielle Edwards, 38, fears the warehouse could make it difficult to sell her home in the future.
She said: ‘It’s awful. We bought this house because we’re a young family wanting to stay in the area.
‘It would be very difficult to move. I can see it from my back garden. We thought they were going to be low-rise industrial units, but they’re not.’
Steve Retford, 69, said he no longer sits in the garden thanks to the ‘profound’ impact of the structure.
The retired police officer added: ‘It’s just dreadful. We feel this sense of injustice.
‘I don’t profess to be a planning expert, but when you look at the sheer enormity of this, it’s not right.
‘It must have taken tens of thousands of pounds off the value of our houses. Every time I think about it, I feel sick.’
Retired project manager Eric Earnshaw, 79, has lived in the Tyldesley area all his life but is now preparing to leave for the Lake District.
Mr Peters, pictured, said his dreams of a peaceful retirement had been ‘shattered’ by the arrival of the structure so close to his home
Paula Boardman, pictured, lives with her husband and two kids in a house that backs onto the imposing warehouse
She is worried a dip in her flooring and a crack in the wall in her home, pictured, could be related to the warehouse’s size
Retired project manager Eric Earnshaw, pictured, has lived in the Tyldesley area all his life but is now preparing to leave for the Lake District
Ms Gerrard lives behind one of the completed warehouses which towers over her rear garden
The keen dog walker said the upcoming move is because he has had enough of constant building work.
He added: ‘There are walks that take me along fields in the area where there are plans for thousands of homes.
‘All the green space around here is disappearing.’
Aidan Thatcher, director for place at Wigan Council, said: ‘This planning application went through our planning consultation and committee process.
‘The final plans include landscaping which will help to screen and soften the appearance, and mitigate the impact on nearby properties.
‘We will continue to monitor the site throughout construction, ensuring this development bringing new jobs and investment to the area is delivered properly.’
PLP declined to comment when approached by the Daily Mail.
The rise of the ‘megashed’ doesn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon – with massive developments ‘constantly’ popping up across the country, much to the dismay of horrified locals.
Corby, for example, in Northamptonshire, is home to dozens of the massive storage units, including Europa’s global HQ and Nike’s forthcoming logistics campus.
Many families are now tempted to move away from the area but have been left concerned about the structure’s impact on property values
The steel structure pictured towering over a row of homes in the area
An overhead shot of the vast site on which the warehouses will stand
A council boss insisted landscaping would help soften the appearance, adding that the project followed proper planning processes
Elsewhere, in Suffolk, a 1.17 million sq ft warehouse used by The Range has sprung up beside a row of countryside houses, while an even bigger ‘megashed’ right next to it has just been approved by the council.
Real estate agents say the current crop is just the beginning – with the UK set to require the equivalent of more than 2,000 football pitches of extra warehouse space to keep up with house-building plans and the fast-fashion epidemic.
To make matters worse, property experts now claim there is very little homeowners can do to stop a ‘megashed’ being built outside their house, with the decision ultimately falling on the council.
Julie Ford, property specialist at Gothard Rowe Property Services, told the Daily Mail: ‘There isn’t actually a lot that they can do sadly. It comes down to local councils.
‘Unless it would directly affect somebody – their health or something.’
Ms Ford added: ‘It’s certainly worth people going to the council. There would have to be enough people […] to almost step over the council.’
UK architect Danny Campbell said homeowners must object through their local council’s planning portal, but admitted their chances of success are ‘limited’.
He said: ‘Residents are usually notified as part of the planning process and can submit objections. There is sometimes a community consultation too.
Northamptonshire has more storage and distribution centres than anywhere else in the country with massive developments ‘constantly’ popping up
Homeowners in Corby have had enough and say their lives have been ruined by the huge warehouses which tower over their homes
‘If the land is zoned for commercial or industrial use, the council may be under pressure to approve for economic reasons. It’s rarely a level playing field.’
He added: ‘You can find out how the land near you is designated on your councils local development plan.’
Mr Campbell encouraged residents to object, urging them to home in on factors such as ‘traffic, noise, visual impact or environmental concerns’.
‘Strong objections usually focus on material planning considerations,’ he said.
‘Not just “I don’t like it”. You can also lobby your MP to help.
‘Noise, light pollution, HGV traffic, and visual intrusion can all reduce desirability. The loss of green buffer zones also affects wellbeing and attractiveness.’
