Up to 130 shipping containers will be placed on a Billingham technology park under plans submitted to Stockton Council. Seneca Property Ltd has applied for planning permission to site the industrial containers on Belasis Court in Belasis Business Park.
It proposes to install 130 steel single-storey storage containers in a grid on the 0.5-hectare site, saying it will create jobs, support the local economy and help attract and keep businesses in the area. A planning statement from agent Enabl says: “The proposal seeks to deliver a modern, flexible self-storage facility that supports both local businesses and residents by providing secure, accessible, and efficiently managed storage space within an established industrial setting… Containers will be set out in a clear, grid-based arrangement, creating defined access routes to enable safe vehicular movement and drive-up access to individual units.
“The layout has been carefully designed to retain existing landscape buffers, maintain visual openness, and ensure compatibility with surrounding employment uses. The storage units will be finished in subtle, non-reflective tones such as dark green to reduce visual prominence and blend with the existing vegetation and industrial backdrop.
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“The overall design approach prioritises functionality, security, and minimal environmental impact.” It describes 24-hour access from an automated gate system with number plate recognition technology, a key-coded pedestrian gate, six car parking spaces and six cycle spaces, with 151 spaces across the rest of Belasis Hall Technology Park, reducing the total number of spaces by 17.
The developer says it will include “subtle landscaping enhancements to create a more coherent setting”. It adds: “The proposed self-storage facility provides a modern and adaptable form of commercial floorspace that can serve both businesses and local residents. The proposal contributes to the area’s economic activity vitality by offering storage and operational space for enterprises of various scales and service providers.
‘Modest in scale’
“The proposed shipping containers are modest in scale, single-storey in height, and subordinate to the larger industrial and commercial buildings characteristic of Belasis Park. Their compact form ensures that the development integrates discreetly within its surroundings without introducing excessive visual bulk or overshadowing adjacent plots.
“The site’s location within a well-established employment park means the development will not introduce any harmful visual contrast or conflict with the surrounding land uses. The low-rise form of the containers, combined with existing and proposed landscaping, ensures that the proposal sits comfortably within its setting, maintaining the estate’s character as an orderly and modern commercial area.”
It argues the proposals will bring economic, social and environmental benefits, boost economic development, enhance the park, help meet growing community needs and support services, improve the organisation of local businesses.
‘There are already parking issues’
Two people have objected to the scheme, both saying: “There are already parking issues for the business centre. Cars are already being parked all the way along the roadside due to lack of onsite parking spaces.
“There is currently a lot of wildlife that live in and use the area, which means that the development would have a major environmental impact with wildlife being displaced.” The developer says the containers will add to biodiversity and ecological value with “attractive landscaping”, and its assessment said an significant effect would be “unlikely”.
They also raised issues with crime and anti-social behaviour, proximity, suitability for the area, loss of light, open space and privacy, access, noise, overdevelopment, traffic and a visual “eyesore”.
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