PROPOSALS to build hundreds of homes on a former distribution depot in Thatto Heath have been approved.

Suttons Group, in partnership with St Helens Council, intends to build up to 352 homes at the former depot on the Linkway Distribution Park adjacent to Elton Head Road.

The hybrid application, which also comprises of a full planning permission for demolition of existing buildings and structures, was unanimously approved by members of the planning committee this evening.

The application was recommended for approval by planning officer Melanie Hale, on the basis of a number of conditions.

She said the council believes the site will make “valuable contribution” to the housing needs of St Helens on a large brownfield site.

The main part of the 30-acre site has been used as a storage and distribution centre, operated by Suttons since the 1950s.

Joanna Gabrilatsou, planning director for the North for JLL, the planning consultant working on behalf of Suttons, spoke to the committee in the public section of the meeting.

She said the site was effectively an “eyesore” for the local community.

“The site has been unable to attract long-term operators for several years now,” she said.

“It has been marketed since roughly around 2006.

“It’s had lots of short-term leases allowing a number of storage uses to use the site. It’s not a particularly effective or efficient use of the site.

“It’s been on about 40, 50 to 60 per cent empty over the years and it’s not been able to sustain any long-term operators.”

She said the buildings are “no longer fit for purpose” for employment use.

Cllr Seve Gomez-Aspron, chairman of the planning committee, said that while the council has adopted a “brownfield first approach” to development, the brownfield element has, in this case, come at the expense on industry.

Thatto Heath councillor Richard McCauley also spoke in the public section of the meeting to give his views on the application, although he stressed that he was not for or against the plans.

The Labour councillor expressed concerns over the impact the development would have on the infrastructure of Thatto Heath, particularly in regards to schools and GP surgeries.

Cllr McCauley said: “The infrastructure in Thatto Heath is absolutely – it’s at breaking point.

“All we’re asking for is, while this is being considered, that you think of the infrastructure of the areas that you are building all the houses on.”

Cllr Martin Bond, ward councillor for Haydock, also expressed concerns over potential traffic impacts of the development.

However, there were no objections to the application from the Highways officer. The application did receive two letters of objection.

The application was unanimously approved by the committee, subject to conditions.

One of the conditions was to include, as part of any reserved matters application relating to residential element of the development, a scheme for the provision of affordable housing.

The affordable housing provision should consist of no less than 30 per cent of housing units, unless demonstrated otherwise on the basis of viability evidence.