A RETAIL warehouse has been given permission for a new car park to stop staff having to park on residential roads nearby.

Next Plc has been granted planning permission for the extra 74-space car park on wasteland near its warehouse in Toftshaw Lane, Tong, Bradford.

The meeting heard that local residents had been complaining to the Council’s environmental health team about noise disturbance from various premises at the West Yorkshire Industrial Estate, including the building owned by Next.

As a result, Next bosses met with locals and set up a code of conduct for staff. The retailer also applied to create the car park, but eight people objected. It The car park includes a landscaped area and fence to try to shield residents from noise. any light and noise coming from the site.

Ella Gartland, agent for Next, said the warehouse was a significant local employer and the land in question was in an employment zone.

She said: “The proposal was for 89 spaces. As a result of objections from local residents, we reduced that to 74 spaces, which means we can get the landscaped area around the perimeter.”

The Bradford Area Planning Panel approved the application at its meeting yesterday.

Its chairman, Councillor Shabir Hussain (Lab, Manningham), said: “I want to thank you for doing this car parking. It is absolutely fantastic.”

He said he didn’t understand why any residents would be against the idea.

He said: “I just can’t believe they are actually opposing this.”

Councillor Imran Khan (Lab, Bowling and Barkerend) added: “It has got to be better than looking at that derelict piece of land.”