Cheshire East approve 100,000sq ft warehouse off Viking Way, Congleton

*Cheshire East councillors voted unanimously to grant planning permission for phase three of Clowes Developments’ Viking Park development during a two-hour strategic planning board meeting on Wednesday 29th March 2023. The decision was made in line with planning officer’s recommendation.

Clowes Developments can move forward with its plans to build a 102,700 sq ft industrial unit on 6.5 acres off Viking Way in Congleton.

Whittam Cox Architects designed the shed, which managed to power through planning despite targeted questions regarding the building’s height of nearly 15 metres, the plausibility of a green roof (not feasible at this time was the verdict), and access concerns.

The project will include 127 car parking spaces, including six designated as disabled and eight with electric vehicle charging capability. There will also be spaces for 28 cycles to be stored.

The large shed makes up phase three of a larger Congleton scheme, which achieved outline planning consent in 2021 for up trial. Asteer Planning is the planning consultant for the Congleton industrial project.

Regarding the scheme’s successful planning meeting result, Asteer partner Alice Routledge said:

The approval of phase three at strategic planning board follows phases 1, 2, and a package of site-enabling works all granted in 2022, and demonstrates Clowes’ intent to deliver the requirements of this strategically important allocation in north Congleton.

The building is of high-quality, sustainable design and is set within a spacious landscape framework with a multi-tonal material palette to compliment the surrounding character. It is yet another great milestone on the project.

Mark Sillitoe, Director at Williams Sillitoe, joint agent for the commercial development commented;

We are delighted to be involved in this high-profile scheme which is well positioned to benefit from the strong demand for warehousing and industrial space and limited supply that we are currently experiencing in the town of Congleton. Not only are we confident that we can accommodate local occupiers looking for space but we also believe that improved infrastructure and M6 corridor access will enable us to engage with occupiers from further afield in Cheshire, Staffordshire and the wider North West and West Midlands.

Andrew Groves – Director, Harris Lamb added;

Having worked with Clowes on the acquisition of this site, Harris Lamb is delighted to continue our involvement as letting agents on the scheme as it progresses during 2023.

Congleton has seen very limited new build industrial development in recent years and from other schemes in the surrounding area, we have seen pent-up demand from occupiers looking for quality accommodation in South Cheshire. The opening of the £90 million Congleton Link Road has significantly improved access around the town and to the M6 Motorway and so the improved accessibility is likely to draw in occupiers from the wider area. The wider scheme offers a broad range of units from 2,500 – 100,000 sq ft available on either a leasehold or freehold basis which will create strong levels of enquiries particularly from companies looking to acquire freehold premises which have been in very short supply over the last 18 months.

Marc Freeman, Director at Clowes Developments further added,

Construction will begin on site as early as April 2023. We already have our lead contractor, TanRo poised and ready to start works at Congleton’s brand-new, mixed-use development, Viking Park.

*Other consultants included Lightwoods Green on arboriculture, RPS on archaeology, Tyler Grange on ecology, and Energytest on energy.

BWB is the air quality and noise consultant. Construction Design Solutions is the flood risk, drainage strategy, and ground investigation expert.

The project team also includes Lighting Project Solutions, Hub Transport Planning, and TPM Landscape. Pegasus assisted in the EIA screening.

*Article content credit – Julia Hatmaker 29 March 2023 18:19 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/cheshire-east-approves-congleton-industrial-nantwich-resi/