Two leading logistics firms have questioned plans for a new residential development in Yorkshire that would involve the construction of a new primary school and numerous homes adjacent to their operating sites.

Clipper Logistics and Potter Group have both written to Selby District Council to question the planned Olympia Park development, which would include 985 homes and various leisure facilities including restaurants, sports and play areas, allotments and a public house.

The development, for which a planning application was submitted in May, is described by developer BOCM Pauls as “a new eastern gateway to Selby that will deliver new homes and new employment and social, environmental and economic benefits”. The two logistics firms, however, believe it will lead to direct conflicts between their operations and local residents and potentially give rise to operating restrictions being applied to what is currently a 24/7/365 site.

In a letter to Selby District Council seen by MT, Clipper Logistics operations director Nigel Hinds said that 24-hour operation was “one of the key attractions” of the site and that any restrictions on hours of operation or traffic movements “would impact severely on our operations and force our customers to consider alternative distribution options”.

The proposed development also “raises the possibility of a direct conflict between commercial traffic and residential and school traffic, with all the obvious safety concerns this entails”, said Hinds.

An earlier letter of objection submitted by Eamonn Keogh, director of planning agent Turley Associates on behalf of site owner Potter Group, suggested the logistics firm was “increasingly concerned that the scheme will have a significant adverse impact on the continued use and operational viability” of the site, citing design flaws in the proposed road infrastructure, uncertainty surrounding the funding of a planned new link road from the A63 bypass to the site, and the potential impact of noise and dust on the new school from the unloading of crushed aggregate from freight trains.

A spokesman for Selby District Council told MT it was “working alongside the developers to look at some of the issues raised”.

No date has been set for the council’s planning committee to consider the application, he added.

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