Cheshire East has given the go-ahead for a self-storage business on the site of a former printworks in Crewe, but restricted its opening hours from 6am to 11pm.

Lock Stock Self Storage Limited had applied for permission to operate 24/7 at the site on the corner of Catherine Street and Frances Street, as part of UK expansion plans to hit 38 sites by 2026.

With facilities in the likes of Chester, Wrexham, Deeside and Shrewsbury, with its first Cheshire site recently opening in Winsford, Lock Stock Self Storage will put 175 storage units at the Crewe South site.

This plot is vacant after the former printworks was destroyed by fire and later demolished in August 2024.

Lock Stock Self Storage Limited had applied for permission to operate 24/7 at the site on the corner of Catherine Street and Frances Street, as part of UK expansion plans to hit 38 sites by 2026 (CEC Planning).

Two Cheshire men, 19 and 18, who pleaded guilty to setting fire to the building, causing widespread disruption and displacing hundreds of residents, were sentenced in May 2025.

Crewe South councillor, Dawn Clark (Labour), told Wednesday's (July 30) meeting of the southern planning committee the area was residential and neighbours feared there would be an impact from the motion lighting and the noise of storage containers being opened and closed late at night.

She said the previous printworks hadn't been noisy.

"People who've lived in that area for decades say it wasn't much noise," she said.

"Do they actually need 24/7 access to this type of facility?

Crewe South councillor, Dawn Clark (Labour) (CEC).

"Legitimately, I don't think anybody needs to go into a container at 3am in the morning."

Rhian Powell, representing the applicant, said the company operated from 30 sites, some in residential areas, and made every effort to be a good neighbour.

She said customers like the idea they had access to the storage facility 24/7 but in reality it wasn't used much late at night.

The application was moved for approval by Brereton councillor John Wray (Con) and seconded by Cllr Allen Gage (Willaston, Conservative).

The Frances Street site is vacant after the former printworks was destroyed by fire and later demolished in August 2024 (Ryan Parker).

It was approved with added conditions restricting the operating hours and for a management plan in relation to the upkeep of the containers and tidiness of the site.

Seven councillors voting in favour, one against and one abstaining.

READ MORE: Plans to convert Crewe flats into six-bed HMO refused.

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