...but action group fears ‘wanton destruction’ amid 102-acre scheme
NEW proposals have given a first glimpse at the East Midlands Freeport, a massive scheme that could span over 100 acres of countryside and create 28,000 new jobs for the region.
The outline application, submitted by Manchester Airports Group (MAG), owners of East Midlands Airport, seeks approval for the principle of transforming land south of the airport into a major distribution and logistics hub.
The ambitious proposal plans to build eight units on the 102-acre land between Castle Donington and Hyam’s Lane in Diseworth.
EAST Midlands Freeport bosses have vowed to continue meeting with villagers set to be impacted by the major distribution and logistics hub plan amid claims it will lead to “wanton destruction” of the countryside.
More than 100 acres of land is set to be swallowed up by the scheme, which aims to bring an investment boost to the region.
Outline plans for the Freeport emerged last week, and would see eight warehouses stretched out across land south of East Midlands Airport (EMA), in Castle Donington.
The site would take up 102 acres of land up to Hyam’s Lane in Diseworth - but villagers have long feared the scheme could severely impact their lives.
Action group Protect Diseworth has previously labelled the project “wanton and unnecessary
MAG, which owns most of the land opposite East Midlands Airport, suggests that the units could be constructed within two years.
This would make it the first of three significant sites in the East Midlands to become part of the UK’s only major inland Freeport, with others planned for the East Midlands Intermodal Park in South Derbyshire and the Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station redevelopment site in Nottingham.
Earlier this year, concerns were raised about the ownership of the land when it was revealed that East Midlands Airport might lose their rights to SEGRO, which manages the logistics park at the nearby destruction” of green fields, claiming it would also ruin rural life for residents.
Officials from EMA’s owner, the Manchester Airports Group (MAG), disagree though, and claim the major plan has been “carefully considered” with residents in mind.
If approved, the Freeport would be accessed off the A453 and become the first of three sites across the region to play a part in the wider East Midlands Freeport project.
The other two would be sited at East Midlands Intermodal Park in South Derbyshire and the Ratcliffeon-Soar Power Station
East Midlands Gateway. This followed the classification of the land as a “development of national significance” by the Government, with ongoing discussions between all parties to reach a resolution.
MAG has asserted that it “fundamentally” controls the majority of the site in question and is capable of proceeding with the development, with access to the proposed units exclusively from the A453.
The company has clarified that the land adjacent to it, which lies south of Hyam’s Lane, is not included in its current plans as it is owned by a third party.
Should the proposal receive backing from the local planning authority, redevelopment site in Nottingham. Overall, the Freeport aims to create 28,000 new jobs across the three sites. At Castle Donington, MAG says more than 2,000 jobs would be created – with 174 people employed over the two-year construction period. However, the plan is mired in controversy and fear from residents. Long Whatton and Diseworth Parish Council have previously spoken of their “extreme concerns” for the site, saying the effects of it and existing problems with EMA would make problems “immense” for villagers. which is North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC), the development would see eight units distributed across the site, with a primary focus on storage and distribution activities occupying 80 per cent of the space. The remaining area would cater to general industry.
MAG has committed to ensuring that all units will be constructed to a “high quality” standard, aiming for an aesthetic that is both “attractive” and “unified”.
Local residents have long expressed concerns about the scale of the project.
Long Whatton and Diseworth Parish Council has previously voiced worries that the development would
They also claim the approval for the scheme would leave Diseworth “hemmed in” by cargo and distribution centres. They fear it would “significantly” add to pressures villagers already face.
MAG believes the outline scheme will allay residents’ fears though.
In documents, they said “significant landscaping” will create a sound buffer from the site and Diseworth, while green space near the village has been “maximised” to ensure disruption is limited. Height limits on the proposed warehouse will also be in force to prevent visual disruption.
Steve Griffiths, EMA’s managing director, said Diseworth residents would be informed throughout the planning process.
He said: “The proposals we have submitted to the council outline how we have carefully considered the exacerbate the “significant” strain on the surrounding villages, noting that Diseworth is already tightly encircled by the M1 and A42 motorways.
Nonetheless, CRBE, representing MAG, has championed the East Midlands Freeport as a “once-in-ageneration” opportunity that promises to generate 28,000 jobs across its three sites. It argues that it will serve as a magnet for further investment within the region.
Detailed designs for the warehouses are set to be unveiled during the reserved matters phase of the planning application. The outline proposal is slated for review by NWLDC at a forthcoming meeting. opportunities and constraints of the site, seeking to strike the balance between the need for such a development against the potential impact on the environment and local residents.
“We have met and will continue to meet members of Diseworth Parish Council and community groups and have aimed to address their concerns in our proposals.”
Freeport bosses are hopeful of the scheme’s benefits too. Tom NewmanTaylor, the project’s chief executive, believed the Freeport could “act as a catalyst for economic regeneration” in the region and would help boost moves for decarbonisation in the area too.
Final designs on the warehouses will emerge at a later stage in the process, with the outline scheme currently before North West Leicestershire District Council.
We continue to meet members of community groups and have aimed to address their concerns in our proposals.