Site CRE 1: Land at Bentley Motors
Land at Bentley Motors, Pyms Lane is allocated for employment purposes to support further investment by Bentley Motors in design, research and development, engineering and production facilities. Development proposals for the site should:
- retain the existing sports facility, playing field and associated area of existing open space unless they are proven to be surplus to need, or suitable improved provision is created having regard to the requirements of LPS Policy SC 2 'Indoor and outdoor sports facilities';
- as part of a travel plan, improve walking and cycling routes through the site and seek to maximise connections for pedestrians and cyclists to and from the site including, for cyclists, the Connect2 Crewe to Nantwich Greenway;
- be sensitively designed to make sure that the amenity of residents in the vicinity of the site is not unacceptably affected; and
- avoid any harm to heritage assets and their setting in accordance with LPS Policy SE 7 ‘The historic environment’ and Policy HER 7 'Non-designated heritage assets' and having regard to the advice on mitigation measures contained in the Heritage Impact Assessment for the site submitted with the SADPD.
Supporting information
12.13 Bentley Motors is an iconic and internationally recognised British brand that has been based at its headquarters in Crewe for more than 70 years. Bentley’s headquarters is an advanced manufacturing site that is home to Bentley’s lifecycle of operations, including design, research and development, engineering and production. The Crewe site employs more than 4,000 people and is Crewe’s largest single employer. Moreover, as a leader in UK luxury car manufacturing, it is a site of much wider, strategic significance to the North West. The allocation of the site recognises the need for Bentley to have the certainty and flexibility to develop its Crewe site and thereby maintain a global competitive edge, realising Bentley’s vision to design and build new model lines and meet the needs of a modern integrated advanced manufacturing business.
12.14 The allocated site is covered by the existing approved Bentley Motors Development Framework and Masterplan (PDF, 3.6MB) (BDFM). The BDFM extends beyond the allocated site to land within the southern part of Site LPS 4 'Leighton West'. The BDFM sets out the vision for Bentley Motors Ltd, to create a 'campus' in Crewe to safeguard and support its future growth. The BDFM provides additional, detailed guidance over and above this site allocation policy and is a material planning consideration in the determination of applications. In particular, the BDFM sets out more detailed design and development principles.
12.15 Planning permission was granted for additional production and manufacturing facilities and an engine test bed facility, amongst other things, at the Bentley site in January 2019.
12.16 The allocated site includes the ‘Legends’ leisure facility, playing field and associated open space. These facilities should be retained unless it can be demonstrated that they are surplus to need or improved alternative provision is made in a location that is well related to the functional requirements of the relocated use and its existing and future users. Proposals that involve the loss of the existing leisure facility, playing field and associated open space will be assessed having full regard to LPS Policy SC 2 ‘Indoor and outdoor sports facilities’.
12.17 Development proposals should make provision for improved pedestrian and cycling routes and consider opportunities to connect to Site LPS 4 'Leighton West' to the north and also to the Connect2 Crewe to Nantwich Greenway.
12.18 Residential uses are located to the south and east of the site and any employment proposals should be designed to make sure that the amenity of existing residents within the vicinity of the site are not unacceptably affected.
12.19 The main office/showroom is a non-designated heritage asset. Any future development proposals should avoid any harm to the heritage asset including its setting, having regard to LPS Policy SE 7 ‘The historic environment’ and SADPD Policy HER 7 'Non-designated heritage assets' and the advice on mitigation measures contained in the Heritage Impact Assessment for the site submitted with the SADPD.
12.20 There is a high potential for contamination (landfill, depot, works). A phase 1 and 2 contaminated land assessment will therefore be required in support of any application.
12.21 Development proposals will need to take account of, as relevant, existing utilities infrastructure crossing the site including the two existing 132kV double circuit overhead lines and water/ wastewater pipelines.
Policy information
Previous page: Policy REC 5 'Community facilities' | Cheshire East Local Plan policy index | Next page: Site CRE 2 'Land off Gresty Road'