Key facts
- Whistl said it would use quieter vehicles and stop yard activity between midnight and 6am.
- Wigan council said an independent review found its planning process legally sound but flagged lessons on engagement and transparency.
- Land owner PLP said the size and scale of the buildings had not changed since its 2023 planning application.
- Resident Helen Halbous said a neighbor's home was valued 30% lower and feared being unable to sell.
Residents of Astley in Greater Manchester are challenging plans by distribution firm Whistl to run dozens of HGVs and trailers around the clock from an 18-meter-high warehouse overlooking their homes, at a two-day public inquiry reported on November 9, 2026. Villagers describe noise from the site waking them at 2am and say they have not had a proper night's sleep in well over a year.
Whistl, which began operating at the site in July, said it would use quieter vehicles and stop using the yard between midnight and 6am, adding that it was committed to meeting its licensing responsibilities and being a good neighbor. A spokesperson said the measures would stay in place while parties sought a sustainable, long-term solution.
Wigan council said it recognized the strength of feeling in the community and did not underestimate the impact residents describe. It said an independent review found its planning process legally sound and compliant with national guidelines, but identified lessons around engagement and transparency. Council leader Nazia Rehman said last month that some lessons had been learned and that future consultations would be proactive.
Land owner PLP said the size and scale of the buildings had not changed since its planning application in 2023, and that earlier plans for smaller units submitted in 2017 by Peel, one of its biggest shareholders, had lapsed. Residents say they were not told the structure would be 18 meters high or so close to their homes.
Stephen Retford, a retired police officer, commissioned independent acoustics experts to produce a sound report, convinced the noise breached regulations. A residents' fightback fund has raised £78,000, much of which will pay for lawyers at the inquiry. Helen Halbous said a neighbor's home was valued 30% lower and that she feared being unable to sell.