The council is investigating after a self-storage yard was advertised without planning permission, which the firm has now retrospectively applied for. This summer, works began taking place at an area of the Europa Trading Estate in Stoneclough. Residents of Sulby Street raised concerns after the grassy area their houses backed onto was excavated and hardcore was laid down .
At the time, the owners of the land, First Investment Real Estate Management (FIREM) said there were "no building works planned". Residents raised concern after the grassy area was excavated (Image: Newsquest) Now, numerous shipping containers have been put in place on the site and a self-storage company called "Cuboid Self Storage North Manchester" is advertised on Google as being on the land. The Bolton News has seen correspondence which shows the council viewed the developments as a planning breach.
They have asked for a retrospective planning application to be put in by FIREM, to which the company has agreed. A spokesman for FIREM said: “The council is supportive of the growth of small businesses as they have nothing in that area. "Since we opened the site it has proved hugely popular with small businesses.
Shipping containers on the land (Image: Public) “We’ve worked hard to improve the appearance of the site. "Instead of scrap cars and buses there’s now storage containers available for small businesses. The industrial estate now looks much better and tidier.
“We want to do the right thing a.