Future of 9,000 jobs set to be decided at Magna Park showdown
Plans for a 1m sq ft warehouse which were originally given the green light in February are set to be re-submitted to Harborough District Council this evening after a lengthy battle with local protestors and heritage groups.
IDI Gazeley’s application, to create a storage and distribution centre and ancillary infrastructure at the Magna Park business park, was originally given the go-ahead an extraordinary meeting of Harborough District Council’s Planning Committee held at Lutterworth College on 28 January 2016.
However, following legal advice, Harborough District Council is to re-consider the planning application in light of advice relating to the nearby Bittesby Deserted Medieval Village – a national and statutorily protected heritage site and Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM).
Legal advice is that following a clarification of the law in a recent High Court case, the Council should re-consider the decision in the light of the way that the heritage issue was previously addressed.
The Council said re-consideration of the planning application would allow for the “proper and robust interpretation and application of national policy”.
The Council said it will also enable members of the planning committee to consider the final version of the section 106 agreement – a legal agreement ensuring developers contribute towards any necessary supportive infrastructure.
Councillor Jo Brodrick, Harborough District Council’s portfolio holder for planning and regeneration, said: “It is of the utmost importance to the council to make sure all national planning policy is taken into account when considering planning applications. For this reason, this planning application will be taken back to committee to ensure any decision reached is robust and in line with current planning policy.”
IDI Gazeley’s application relates to land to the north west of Mere Lane, Bittesby, near Lutterworth.
It proposes a 1,085,476 sq ft storage and distribution centre with offices on land adjoining and linked to Magna Park, including formation of access road from Magna Park, erection of gatehouse, creation of roundabouts, partial realignment of Mere Lane and upgrading of the A5 road to dual carriageway, creation of drainage facilities and associated infrastructure and landscaping works.
It is the first of three applications from IDI Gazeley that would extend Magna Park by 6m sq ft and would make it bigger than the nearby town of Lutterworth.
IDI Gazeley said the first expansion would create 1,200 jobs with a further 7,800 if the other plans are approved.
The committee meeting to re-consider the first application will be held tonight at Hangar 42, Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground and Aerodrome, Bath Lane, Bruntingthorpe, near Lutterworth, Leicestershire.
The two separate planning applications for storage and distribution centres at Magna Park are set to be considered by the council’s planning committee later in the year.
