Plans for 1m sq ft of employment space could be kicked out

Councillors are being advised to vote against a major employment park in Leicestershire that has received over 170 objections during the planning process.

The scheme, by St Modwen, would see almost 1m sq ft of industrial space built on land south of J1 of the A50 at Castle Donington and would create almost 1,500 jobs.

However, concerns have been raised about how the scheme, which would stretch to 49 acres, would affect the local landscape and people living nearby. Further concerns include that the speculative scheme would be built on a floodplain and adverse impacts to the existing road network.

A statement from North West Leicestershire Council reads: “Whilst there is evidence of an immediate demand for the additional employment land which this application would provide, the proposed scheme would have a significantly adverse impact on the appearance and character of the landscape contrary
to the criteria set out within Policy S3 of the adopted North West Leicestershire Local Plan as well as Policy Ec2(2) of the adopted Local Plan which apply to development outside the Limits to Development. It is also considered that the proposal would result in a form of development which would not be well integrated with existing development and buildings.”

The council’s planning committee will vote on the scheme on February 9.