9,000 jobs on the way as Magna Park extension gets green light

Councillors from Harborough District Council have approved plans for the huge expansion of Magna Park in Leicestershire, despite last-minute protests from locals opposed to the plans.

Developers say the extension will create 9,000 jobs at two site next to the M1 near Lutterworth. The first is for Magna Park North, an expasion of the existing park to the north-west, while the second is Symmetry Park, a new park to the south-east.

Developer DB Symmetry wants to create a 279,000 sq ft scheme made of up warehouses and offices, which it says will create 3,500 jobs.

Meanwhile, IDI Gazeley, which owns Magna Park says it will build 420,000 sq ft of new offices, storage and distribution units, a logistics institute, start-up business units, an exhibition and heritage centre and a HGV driving centre.

Both schemes had met with fierce opposition. A post on the campaign group Magna Park is Big Enough’s Facebook page late last night read: “Magna Park is TOO big. I’m really sorry to tell you that the Planning Committee accepted both planning applications – both by a slender majority.  I am gutted that we failed to achieve our goal.”