No public inquiry into glass factory

Communities secretary John Denham has decided not to intervene in the saga over planning permission for a glass manufacturing facility at Elton, Cheshire.

He has signalled that his department will not require a public inquiry following the decision of Cheshire West and Chester Council's strategic planning committee to resolve the grant of retrospective planning permission to Quinn Glass Ltd for the complex.

Six months ago the planning authority served an enforcement notice on Quinn Glass Ltd, requiring it to cease production at its Chester factory within nine months and demolish unauthorised buildings at the site of the former Ince B Power Station.

This move followed a High Court ruling ordering enforcement action over the £300m bottling and glass-making complex, built in 2005, but which was 20 per cent larger than the project's original planning approval. That legal challenge was mounted by Quinn Glass's trade rivals, Ardagh Glass Ltd.

Adrian Curry, a Quinn Glass director, said: “We are delighted that common sense has prevailed in the end and that the Secretary of State has resolved to bring this planning issue to a final conclusion.” 

Read the Quinn Glass Ltd press release

Related article:

New twist in glass factory planning saga (11 September 2009)

 

Roger Milne

12 November 2009