THE chairman of a residents' campaign group says the number of jobs created at the M6 Major development is an "absolutely deplorable rate of return" for the destruction of green belt land.
Paul Parkinson, chairman of the Residents Against the Florida Farm Development group (RAFFD), said that while they were confident that the figure of 2,500 jobs at the development wasn’t achievable, they are "astounded by the resulting extremely low number".
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Cereal giant Kellogg's last week announced it will lease a giant 525,000 sq. ft warehouse at the Haydock site to help in the delivery of its food brands, such as Corn Flakes, Coco Pops and Pringles across Britain and for export to the European Union and Middle East.
This will create 70 jobs, it was announced.
The 91-acre site, formerly Florida Farm, is located off the East Lancs near junction 23 of the M6, next to an existing Amazon warehouse and was developed by Bericote in conjunction with Hillwood.
The Haydock site will be Kellogg’s largest warehouse in the UK. It will move into the warehouse from the April 1.
Online retail giant Amazon opened a warehouse at the other warehouse at the site last September, with 250 jobs initially created.
The Amazon warehouse
The job numbers have attracted criticism from resident campaigners and councillors.
During the planning application process, Bericote Properties said the development would deliver 2,500 jobs.
Mr Parkinson, of RAFFD, said: "More than 60 acres of green belt land was destroyed to create the Florida Farm Development, that equates to a mere five jobs per acre.
"This is an absolutely deplorable rate of return.
"This news brings into question the whole strategy of the council in putting all their eggs in the basket of logistics in order to create jobs.
"They have recently granted planning permission for the Parkside Development in Newton-le-Willows and only last week Wigan MBC granted planning permission for 1.5 million sq ft of warehousing just off junction 25 of the M6.
"All of this is at a time when the advancement of robotics in the logistics sector is rapidly gathering pace, seriously reducing the number of human employees required."
Mr Parkinson added: "We are left with an overstretched road network, polluted atmosphere and the loss of acres of beautiful green belt land.
"Our towns are becoming unattractive and unwelcoming by the intrusion of these monstrous developments.
"Our planners, councillors and advisors really need to do their homework and be aware of what is happening in the real world of today.
"They should also start to listen to the residents rather than the siren voices of developers."
A St Helens Council spokesperson said: "With funding from central government massively reduced, the council is looking to benefit from its prime location on the motorway network in order to attract growth and secure jobs for residents, the money from which can then be reinvested in the local economy.
"The borough already has a strong track record in logistics, with a number of major leading operators having based themselves here for some time now.
"Securing growth and employment opportunities is one of the council's main priorities and jobs at this site can bring a diverse range of skilled roles which which supports employment growth in the borough."
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