Hundreds of jobs could be created if a major Leicestershire logistics park’s expansion is approved. The developer insists the site is in an “excellent location”, but residents have voiced concerns over the plan.
IM Properties wants to create a 600,000 sq ft building at Mercia Park, in Appleby Magna, south of Ashby. The building would be sited on land between the A444 and Junction 11 of the M42, opposite an existing 3.5 million sq ft logistics park, which is home to the likes of Jaguar Land Rover and global transport and logistics firm DSV. It would become DSV’s second building at Mercia Park.
Scoping plans for the proposed new building emerged in April. Residents have previously said the logistics park had “never been welcome” and a potential expansion could leave the area permanently “gridlocked”.
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IM Properties said it believed the new site could enhance DSV’s “continued growth”. The company employs nearly 400 people at its existing “state-of-the-art” Mercia Park building, while the logistics park as a whole has 2,300 workers across its DSV, Jaguar Land Rover and Unipart sites.
The developer said the current DSV building was “high quality” and had “accessible green infrastructure” in the form of woodlands and wildflower meadows to limit its environmental impact. That would be mirrored at the second site, which could create 420 new jobs for the area, it added.
However, concerns run deep in the area over the proposal. Oakthorpe and Donisthorpe Parish Council has previously said the expansion would add to existing “massive traffic issues” on the M42. Fears about the Appleby Magna Interchange roundabout, which serves Mercia Park, have also been raised. Some residents have also questioned the need for the expansion. IM Properties said it would work with the community to alleviate fears.
Matt Fox, planning director at IM Properties, said: “Our proposals for expansion will build upon the success of Mercia Park, underpinned by high standards of building design, extensive landscaping including biodiversity enhancement as well as accessible green space and measures to reduce visual impact.
“Working with DSV we will continue to promote sustainable travel and carefully manage traffic from the development in the local area, as well as ensure the site offers benefits to local communities as well as the people working at Mercia Park.”
Consultations on the proposal are being held at two drop-in events next week. IM Properties and DSV said the community’s feedback would help shape the plan going forward.
The events are taking place at:
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Measham Leisure Centre, Measham (Wednesday, June 26 – 4pm to 8pm)
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Sir John Moore Primary School, Appleby Magna (Saturday, June 29 – 10am to 2pm)
Surinder Dubro, executive vice president, solutions, UK, Ireland and Nordics at Mercia Park, said he believed the expansion was needed. He said: “Mercia Park is an excellent location which has allowed us to develop a highly skilled workforce and deliver excellent customer service, all within a sustainable and low carbon environment. Expanding our operations with a new building is an important opportunity to our expansion in the UK, creating a range of new roles for local people.”
A formal planning application will be submitted to North West Leicestershire District Council later this year. The council will then decide at a later date.
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