Botany Bay: Homes plans scrapped in favour of business units

The proposal for phrase two was approved by the planning committee

Plans to build more than 200 homes on the outskirts of a town have been scrapped in favour of a proposal to create an industrial development.

The properties were due to be built on part of the Botany Bay site in Chorley.

But now Chorley Council's planning committee has given the go-ahead for 69 units to accommodate businesses in need of manufacturing, storage, office, research and development space.

The £100m project would be the second phase in the redevelopment of the area.

The first stage of the work is already under way with the construction of the adjoining Botany Bay Business Park.

Adele Hayes, Chorley Council's head of planning and enforcement, told committee members that in spite of the rethink, there was still "capacity" for housing to be delivered elsewhere at the broader location.

The proposal attracted more than 120 objections from members of the public, with concerns including its potential impact on the local road network, and harm to the appearance and character of the area.

Botany Bay closed to the public in 2019

It is estimated by developer FI Real Estate Management (FIREM) that 392 full-time-equivalent jobs would be generated by the development, along with 163 temporary construction roles.

After almost an hour of presentations and debate, the proposal was approved by the committee on a majority of nine votes to two.

In a statement issued after the planning committee meeting, FIREM said that they had received more than 250 enquiries "from businesses keen to be based at the landmark Botany site".

Tim Knowles, founder and managing director of FIREM, said: "Our multi-million-pound redevelopment of Botany sees us realise our vision to create a scheme built by the people of Lancashire for the people of Lancashire."

Previous plans to create an outlet shopping village at Botany Bay were abandoned in November 2020 due to what FIREM described at the time as "a decline in the retail sector".

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