The mayor of Greater Manchester has said planning rules should be reviewed after complaints about warehouses being built close to people’s homes.
Speaking on Radio Manchester’s Hot Seat, Bev Craig said she agreed with concerns raised by campaigners from the Astley Warehouse Action Group and questioned why modern industrial developments were being allowed closer to residential properties than traditional industry.
The group was formed after the construction of large warehouses at Astley Business Park near Tyldesley.
Residents have complained about the scale of the development, its proximity to homes and concerns over noise from future operations.
During Thursday’s programme, campaigner John asked whether residents could continue to rely on mayoral support as they were entering what he described as a new phase of the campaign, focused on the effect the warehouses would have once fully operational.
Craig said that lessons needed to be learned from the situation.
“I think we have to go and look at proper planning rules around this as well, because old industry wouldn’t have got that close to your house,” she said.
“So why is it that new industry can?”
The mayor said she wanted to explore whether planning rules should be changed, and offered to meet residents to discuss their concerns.
She added: “Other people can’t be in the same situation in the future, and we need to look at what we can do to help you now.”