New industrial site plans refused by councillors

PLANS for a new industrial development that would create 300 jobs - but which received more than 80 objections - have been refused.

The planning application for a 22-acre site with industrial, storage and distribution premises on the eastern edge of Castle Donington has been unanimously rejected due to concerns over its location.

One of the major issues raised in objections to the plan was that it would result in the loss of land separating Castle Donington from Lockington and Hemington.

The proposed site, east of Carnival Way, also sits outside development boundaries defined in North West Leicestershire’s Local Plan.

Coun Nigel Smith, chairman of the planning committee at North West Leicestershire District Council, said: “While we want to encourage new employment and economic investment in North

West Leicestershire, developments of this nature must be in the right place. This development is outside the limits of development in the Local Plan that we worked incredibly hard over a number of years to implement.

“We were also concerned about the intrusion on the land that separates Castle Donington from Lockington and Hemington.

“On balance we feel it was appropriate to refuse the application on these grounds.”

The application involved constructing several buildings, with a total floor space of 23,838 square metres.

Planning consultants predicted 44 full-time construction jobs would be created in building the new business park, with another 261 created by businesses based there.

It drew objections from Castle Donington and LockingtonHemington parish councils.

Another 79 third-party objections were also received, mainly from the public.