VACANT land in Barnton is earmarked for the siting of 94 self-storage units contained in a screened, secure compound.

U Lock It, from Chapel Street in Wincham, is seeking planning approval for the storage scheme from Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The site is bounded the Runcorn Road and the Weaver Navigation, and agents for U Lock It say care has been taken to ensure the layout of the scheme does not harm the character of the area.

Surrounding land comprises employment and residential land, grazing, woodland and recreation uses.

“The proposed use would employ two people, and would provide a storage facility to support local businesses and individuals, including home-based business activities,” said a report by Richard Lee Project Planning accompanying the application.

“The containers will be painted green, and will be well maintained, in the same way as they are presented and maintained on U Lock It’s existing sites in Wincham, Middlewich and Runcorn.

“They will be screened by hedgerows, thereby ensuring the use and boundary fencing are screened and will not detract from the area’s character.”

The height of the storage units would not exceed 2.6 metres, and the units would not be stacked.

The site would be accessed through the existing vehicle access off Runcorn Road, and the access and visibility splays would be improved via a remote operation barrier, controlled by customers.

The report said the barrier was set back seven metres from the kerb line on Runcorn Road, thereby providing adequate clearance for customers’ vehicles accessing the site.

There would be an office on site, and it is also planned to put up 2.6-metre high boundary fencing and CCTV cameras to secure the site on three six-metre high CCTV towers.

“The site is distant from future housing and other development associated with Winnington Urban Village,” said the report.

“The site is not within a Conservation Area, and the proposed use for storage purposed constitutes a low-key use which can be screened to minimise its impact upon the character of the area.

“The proposals will use the site in a viable, positive and appropriate manner.”