Residents of the Henfold Estate in Tyldesley are fighting back after giant warehouses were built next to their homes
10:19, 04 Sep 2025Updated 12:01, 04 Sep 2025
Tyldesley residents from left John and Jackie Peters, Steve Retford, Craig Davies, Jo Gerrard and Hazel White
Some householders say they are now facing financial ruin, claiming the new development has caused several house sales on the Henfold Estate to fall through.
Almost 300 residents crammed into Astley Community Club last night, where the Astley and Mosley Common Warehouse Action Group was launched.
It follows the appearance of enormous steel structures, said to resemble ‘cruise ships,’ which are part of a 350,000 sq ft industrial site. These tower over fences and hedges, completely overshadowing homes just metres away from the development.
Residents, some of whom bought their homes under Wigan’s shared ownership scheme, say construction work and the stress are affecting their mental health. It’s also claimed that the work is adversely affecting staff and pupils at Garrett Hall Primary School, which also stands in the shadow of the warehouses.
Wigan’s planning committee initially approved outline plans for a development of low-rise warehouses in 2015, which residents living on the Tyldesley estate then supported because the buildings proposed were smaller and not as intrusive.
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However, after that planning approval lapsed, a new planning application from Peel Land and Property (PLP) for four 60ft high mega warehouses – which many residents say they were unaware of – was approved in June last year.
Residents in Tyldesley are living in the shadow of gigantic warehouses, that are being built right next to their properties(Image: Manchester Evening News)
The action group, led by residents John Peters, 71, Craig Davies, 39, and Steve Retford, 69, was constituted at last night’s meeting. At that meeting, residents resolved to launch a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to force a judicial review of the Wigan planning committee’s decision to approve the 2024 planning application.
A council spokesman said the development had gone through all the correct planning procedures, and some measures to lessen the impact have yet to be completed. The MEN have contacted PLP for comment.
‘We feel completely let down by the people who are supposed to be looking after us’
Meanwhile, one couple, Sandra Mehta, 62, and husband Jay, 59, spoke of the heartbreak of being unable to sell the home in Thistle Croft, which they bought seven years ago, as it backed onto a green field.
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After putting their home on the market for £425,000, they got no interest, dropping the price to £400,000.
“Once construction started, it dropped in value again to £330,000,” said Sandra. “In the end we stopped trying to sell it. We were hoping to move to move to Biddulph in Cheshire, but that dream has been ended.”
Sandra and Jay Mehta say they cant sell their house
Another couple in a similar position are their neighbours, Sami and Helen Halbous, aged 67 and 46, respectively.
“It’s absolutely devastating,” said Helen. “We feel completely let down by the people who are supposed to be looking after us.
“The original planning application in 2015 would have been fine. It was going to be Monday to Friday working at the smaller warehouses.
“But now, those big warehouses will be operating 24/7. We will get no peace. The chances of anyone selling a house on this estate is now nil.”
Addressing the meeting, retired teacher Mr Peters said the backlash against the warehouses in the last week had been ‘unimaginable’.
Alluding to the number of residents in the club, he referenced the famous line from the 1976 film Jaws: “I think we’re going to need a bigger boat.”
Tyldesley residents from left John and Jackie Peters, Steve Retford, Craig Davies, Jo Gerrard and Hazel White with the giant warehouses in the background
“I’ve been listening to people, and I’ve got a real sympathy for any young people who are trying to sell their homes.
“In one case, there were four responses from estate agents saying people love the house, but as soon as they looked at what has appeared, they said, ‘no thanks’.
“The same lady said her baby is developing asthma because of the dust in the air and she’s really worried. And there are homes where they’ve had to put down rat traps and rat cages, because if you disturb a couple of acres of wildlife, you’re going to get consequences.”
Homeowners vow to overturn ‘cruise ship’ planning decision at meeting
He said he knew a teacher at the school who had told the parents that she was struggling to talk above the noise of the machinery coming from the construction work on the site.
“These guys have got ear protectors on,” he said. “But the children and the staff haven’t.”
Residents say construction work and the stress are affecting their mental health(Image: Manchester Evening News)
The group hopes to find a law firm to take on the case pro bono or even to approach universities with the view of using the case by legal students as an exercise to be mentored by their professors.
Group members are also set to submit Freedom of Information requests to the council as part of a ‘forensic’ examination into how the decision to approve the contentious planning application came about.
One resident said she had submitted a formal complaint using the council’s formal procedures, with a possible further approach to the local government Ombudsman as an option further down the line.
The view from resident Jo Williams’ back garden(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Responding to the comments about the planning process, Aiden Thatcher, director of place at Wigan council, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “This planning application went through our planning consultation and committee process.
“The final plans include landscaping which will help to screen and soften the appearance, and mitigate the impact on nearby properties.
“We will continue to monitor the site throughout construction, ensuring this development bringing new jobs and investment to the area is delivered properly.”
PLP has also been contacted for comment.
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