MAMMOTH BUILD
‘It’s a monster’, cry locals as 60ft-high warehouse pops up metres behind homes – after council told wrong street
The council's blunder could send house prices plummeting
LOCALS have expressed their fury after a "monster" 60ft-high warehouse was erected in their town without warning.
Residents in Corby, Northamptonshire were shocked to discover that a large metal frame of an industrial unit was being built a stone's throw away from their homes.
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Seething homeowners asked their local council why they weren't told - only to find out officials had mixed up the streets.
North Northamptonshire Council had mixed up Hooke Close with a street half a mile down the road.
Instead, head-scratching residents on Hubble Road were warned over the 160,800 sq ft development.
Those on Hooke Close are now reportedly “living through hell”, with some alleging building works on the former Weetabix factory may block sunlight beaming into their homes – potentially sending house prices plummeting.
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"If they'd consulted and said 'we're going to put a 160,000 sq ft warehouse there that's going to block your view' I would have obviously objected to it, but they didn't," Resident Georgie Wallis fumed.
"How can you get that so wrong?
"How can you make such an error and wonder why no-one has objected?
"It's enormous. Once the shell goes in it, that's going to be a complete eyesore, and it already is, it's awful."
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North Northamptonshire Council approved plans to build the warehouse last November, with completion expected later this year.
Couple Jose Cruz, 64, and his wife Olga, 59 hit out at the council for not telling residents their plans.
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Supermarket worker Jose said: "It's a nightmare, the building will leave our home in complete darkness.
"There used to be a Weetabix factory on the site but that was half the size of this monstrosity and it had been dormant for a long time.
"We get the sun in the morning into our kitchen, garden and bedroom but not anymore.
"The works have caused our house to shake violently. It goes on for hours and hours.
"It's terrible and we're very angry we weren't consulted about it."
DISRUPTION TO WORK LIFE
Operations manager Kieran Joseph bemoaned the noise caused by the construction crew.
He said: "It's been pretty hellish ever since they started building.
"While they have been laying the foundations, it's been a constant 'bang, bang, bang' all day every day.
"The vibrations have caused a crack in our roof so the kids' bedroom leaks and when I or [my wife] Megan work from home we've had to explain and apologise to customers because of the noise."
Labour councillor Mark Pengelly said: "The council (NNC) have admitted they consulted with the wrong streets on this application.
"Incredibly the North Northants planning officers consulted with homes next to a different Weetabix site.
"My constituents are furious and would have objected to how close the buildings are to their homes."
Conservative council leader Jason Smithers added: "North Northamptonshire Council has recently been made aware of an error which impacted upon our planning consultation process for the proposed redevelopment of an industrial site on the Earlstrees Industrial Estate in Corby and resulted in letters about a planning application being sent to residents in Hubble Road, Corby instead of Hooke Close, Corby.
"We understand the frustration caused to neighbouring residents of the development site and apologise for the error.
"We can confirm that the permission remains lawful as a notice was placed at the site and a press advert was published - which fulfils the statutory part of the process.
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"We apologise again for the error and residents can be assured we are doing all we can to ensure a similar issue doesn't happen again."
The Sun has reached out to Weetabix and North Northamptonshire Council for comment.
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