‘Port Related Modular Construction’ Plans for Manchester

Plans to reinstate a freight rail line, build warehouses and extend the Manchester Ship canal-side berth have been put before the Council.

The pre-application was submitted to Warrington Borough Council on Tuesday on behalf of the Manchester Ship Canal Company.

The plans outline the proposed construction of a ‘port related modular construction’ and the reinstatement of a rail freight line.

As well as this, the plans propose to extend the canal-side berth and erect industrial units, fencing and lighting.

The development would occupy around five and a half hectares of land at Acton Grange and aims to create an accessible freight hub and provide multimodal transport options via ship, road and rail.

Rail access to the site would be achieved through the reinstatement of the freight line, the pre-application states, and connect it to the West Coast Main Line.

The area lies within the green belt and is bordered by Moore Nature Reserve and Acton Grange viaduct.

The site holds extant permission for the proposed development, which was granted by the council in 2010.

As part of the original application, a habitat survey was carried out which found that the site supported several protected and notable species at the time including bats, toads and a variety of species of birds.

“Although now outdated, given that the Site has re-vegetated over time and bordering habitats appear to have been retained, it is considered that similar species are still likely to be present within and surrounding the site,” the pre-application report states.

“However, given that the ponds within the Site are likely to have been removed during infilling works, the Sites potential to support amphibians will have been reduced.”

If the application requires and gains approval from Warrington Borough Council, the existing berth will be extended by 25 metres to accommodate larger vessels.

On top of this, approximately five to 10 meters of the site will be cleared and levelled before tracks are installed and connected to the main rail network.

An emergency access road would be constructed and connected to Birchwood Lane in case the main entrance, off Taylor Street, is blocked during an incident.

Two industrial warehouse buildings measuring up to 15 meters in heigh would be erected, with the construction of the entire proposed development to last for around two years.

The screening opinion has been put before Warrington Borough Council, which will decide whether the development requires an environmental impact assessment.

Source: Warrington Guardian