Amazon warehouse proposal gets political

Controversial proposals for an Amazon warehouse in Yorkshire are set to become one of the battle lines in the forthcoming Bately & Spen by-election in July.

Labour candidate Kim Leadbeater, spoke out against the development calling it “totally inappropriate” and intimated that it would not provide well paid quality jobs.

The proposals are for a 2.85 million ft2 warehouse on a 58.5-acre site on farmland near Junction 26 of the M62 motorway. It has been widely linked to Amazon as the end user.

Should it be granted planning approval, the scheme could provide up to 1,500 jobs.

Currently the application is going through a pre-planning consultation period prior to full planning permission being submitted later this year.

It is envisaged the building would comprise a 695,423 ft2 footplate with three and a half mezzanine floors. There would be parking for approximately 191 HGVs and 887 cars.

In the pre application submission to Kirklees Council, the applicant emphasised that a distribution and storage warehouse facility of this type and size would create employment for approximately 1,500 staff. “There would be a wide range of job opportunities across a number of professions, including engineering, IT professionals, robotics, general management, human resources and team members to manage customer orders. In addition there would be catering and support staff, cleaners, landscape gardeners and security personnel.

“Furthermore, at least 800 jobs would be created during the construction and fit out stages of the project.”