Plans for a new building at a Warrington employer have faced a setback, delaying the expansion of the workforce. The company, Plastic Omnium, had submitted plans to the Warrington Borough Council in September for a new outbuilding at their site at Omega. The proposed building was meant to serve as temporary, ancillary storage on existing hardstanding at their location on Orion Boulevard.
However, the council planners have refused permission for the new building, citing concerns over the potential impact on the road network. Plastic Omnium is known for manufacturing external plastic elements for cars, such as bumpers, energy absorption systems, and fender modules. They also produce tank systems, road signage, waste storage systems, and wheelie bins, with a workforce of approximately 31,000 employees worldwide.
The company currently employs 300 full-time staff at the Warrington premises, with plans to increase the workforce by 10 members. The proposed building was intended to be operational 24 hours a day for a temporary period of 10 years to meet the company’s stock needs and customer demand. The new building was supposed to be constructed on underutilized land at the rear and east of the main premises, previously used for external storage.
Plastic Omnium stated that the new building would provide a secure environment for loading and unloading of goods, leading to the employment of 10 additional full-time staff. They assured that the increase in traffic movements would be negligible since the staff movements would be spread out over a 24-hour period. The company also mentioned that there would be no significant change in HGV movements due to the proposed building.
Despite the company’s arguments, the council refused permission, expressing concerns about potential negative impacts on HGV movements and parking within the facility. They also doubted the potential effects on the wider highway network. The council emphasized the need for further evidence that the proposed works would not harm the traffic flow and parking at the site.
The refusal of permission for the new building has put a hold on Plastic Omnium’s expansion plans and the intended increase in workforce. The company will need to address the council’s concerns and possibly revise their plans to ensure that their growth does not negatively impact the surrounding road network. This delay in expansion highlights the challenges that companies may face when trying to grow their operations while considering the impact on the local infrastructure and community.
