Plans for builder's merchants opposite Snowhill Retail Park in Wakefield put forward

Monte Blackburn Ltd has asked for planning permission to start trading opposite Snowhill Retail Park, to the north of Wakefield city centre.

The business would create 30 jobs for local people and sell materials to craftsmen in the area, according to the proposal.

Wakefield Council rejected a similar plan from the firm in April after officers concluded it would have a "detrimental and harmful impact on the character" of the area.

In response, the company has changed the proposed layout of the site, as well as the hours of trading.

Monte Blackburn says the site will be open from 7am until 5.30pm on weekdays and 7am until 1pm on Saturdays.

The planning statement put forward to the council says this will "Ensure that the builders merchants will not operate or create any noise emissions, during weekday evenings, Saturday afternoons and evenings, all day on Sundays and bank holidays, or during any part of any night time."

It adds: "The proposed development is contemporary and modern in style."

"It is anticipated that the proposed development will create 30 jobs. In the operator’s significant experience of delivering similar schemes nationally, the majority of the employees are sourced from the vicinity of the site, ensuring the local community benefits from the proposed development."

Monte Blackburn, which is based in Blackburn itself, has also proposed building an acoustic fence around the eastern edge of the site to mitigate noise for the neighbouring houses.

Local Democracy Reporting Service