Plans for huge business park extension rejected

Plans for a major extension to a business park which would have created around 700 jobs have been rejected.

Amber Valley Borough Council’s planning committee unanimously refused the plans to extend Denby Hall Business Park in the Derbyshire green belt, against the recommendations of the authority’s officers.

The expansion of the former colliery would have included a new 32,021 sq m production facility for Garner Aluminium Extrusions, a 20,009 sq m warehouse for HL Plastics and a 7,293 sq m production facility for LB Plastics.

Council planning officers said the creation of jobs and the economic benefit to the borough met the “very special circumstances” required to build on green belt land.

Garner Holdings, which put forward the plans, said the expansion would also safeguard 100 jobs at HL Plastics, LB Plastics and Garnalex, which are in need of new and larger premises.

It added that the expanded facilities would create a further 680 new jobs by 2025.

But the planning committee rejected the plans, saying economic reasons could not be used in favour of building on the green belt.