Muller fights old bus site development
Dairy giant Muller has objected to plans to turn a former bus depot in Minsterley into homes and business units.
The international company says developing the site to provide housing, retail and business units, could impact the future of its facility in the village.
In particular, it voiced concerns that noise generated from its site will be detrimental to residents of the new homes.
GVA Grimley Ltd, on behalf of Muller, said the issues were raised by a planning inspector when a similar development went to appeal 10 years ago. They subsequently said they would not make an impact and approved the proposal.
But GVA says at that time Muller did not own the site and says it has changed since then.
They continued: “Muller is very keen to ensure that granting planning permission for development adjacent to it does not impact on its ability to continue to operate the site, in accordance with its business requirements, both now and in the future.”
Muller took over the factory in 2013 where it produces yoghurts, dairy products and puddings.
It employs around 170 staff at the site.
GVA note that since 2008 working patterns have changed “significantly” and new machinery has been brought to the site which could produced noise that wasn’t previously assessed and has questioned if the application is viable without a noise assessment.
They continued: “The potential for noise generated by the factory to harm the residential amenity of the occupiers of nearby properties was robustly rehearsed during the determination of the appeal in 2008.
“At that time, detailed technical information was assessed by experts and a conclusion was reached by the Planning Inspector.
“The current planning application does not appear to include any such technical information.”
The current proposal by applicants Atbay Ltd of Pulverbatch, near Shrewsbury, are for 10 homes, plus space for 600 sqm of retail and 600sqm of office and industrial units.
If approved it would lead to the creation of 25 jobs.
A decision from Shropshire Council is expected by November 8.
By Emily Lloyd, local democracy reporter
