A PLANNING application seeking permission to install a dozen storage containers at an industrial site has been approved.

Plans were submitted by applicants The Storage Team for the site at Lea Green Business Park, at Eurolink, Sutton Manor.

Planning officer Kim Vo noted in a report that there are already 34 existing shipping containers installed at the site, which were approved under a previous application.

It was added the shipping containers are “directly linked to the wider commercial function of the buildings”.

Ten of the proposed standard containers will measure just higher than 2.5m, slightly longer than 6m, with a width of slightly more than 2.4m.

Also, plans included for two smaller containers, just longer than 3m and 2.43m in width.

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Nine of the containers will be put within the compound to the northeast, and the remaining three to the southwest.

Recommending approval, Ms Vo said: “The application site is located within an existing employment/industrial area and the proposal is therefore, sustainably and appropriately located in accordance with Policy LPA01 of the Local Plan”.

St Helens Star: Planning officers at the town hall approved the applicationPlanning officers at the town hall approved the application (Image: Stock)

It was added “the additional storage containers will also provide increased facilities for an existing storage business” and while the proposal “will result in a more intensive use of the land, this is supported by and complies with Policy LPA03 of the Local Plan, which encourages the reuse, re-configuration, or re-development of light industrial, offices and research and development uses of land.

“The principle of the development is therefore, considered to be acceptable”.

The planning officer added the proposed storage containers “will be small scale and would be well screened by the existing storage containers and the existing mature trees along the west boundary”.

Also, it was considered the proposal “will not have a significant detrimental impact on visual amenity” or on "the amenities of the neighbouring buildings”.

Permission was granted.

There is also a separate application for 27 containers at the site still to be determined.