Great Bear warehouse plans set for approval 

By Liza Helps Property Editor Logistics Matters

THE PROPOSALS  put forward by Oldham-based family owned developer Goold Estates will see the development of a 355,000 ft2  facility for Great Bear Distribution, which is currently in outdated facilities at Spring Road in Ettingshall.

The new facility will be built to target BREEAM Excellent and an EPC A rating. It is designed to a modern, environmentally sustainable, purpose-built facility to meet Great Bear’s long-term operational requirements. This will allow it to remain in the local area, securing and expanding the jobs it currently provides.

The 31.43-acre site is located off Neachells Lane, near Moseley Village in Willenhall, Wolverhampton and was once part of a 19th century colliery and subsequent landfill site that was reclaimed in the 1990’s and is presently used as informal public space.

The buildings and parking areas for the development will use up only half of the current site. The remainder of the site will be re-engineered and re-landscaped to provide a new area of high quality publicly accessible open space with re-routed and well-lit footpaths.

Indicative drawings  will see the facility provide warehouse space with 40 dock and two level access doors boasting 18m eaves and 60 HGV parking spaces along one side of the building with two storey hub office in addition on the opposite side of the building there is a three storey Grade A office block.

Despite this being development of green space planning officers have recommended the scheme for approval having noted: “The exceptional strategic benefits of the proposal, in particular the economic benefits given the acknowledged shortfall of employment land, are given significant weight. The proposals will impact on the nature conservation value of the site, and result in a net loss of open space in this area. The impact of this loss would be mitigated by improvement in the quality of the remaining on-site provision, and investment in assets within the local area. Therefore, these proposals can be accepted in principle.

The proposal will also treat all Japanese Knotweed stands on site, remediate contamination associated with its former uses and stabilise the site. 

Goold estate will provide £700,000 as part of an S106 agreement for the off-site mitigation for loss of habitat and provide a Long term management plan of the remaining public open space on the site.