Freight hub plan could create up to ‘20,000’ jobs
COUNCIL LEADER HAILS BUSINESS PARK PROPOSALS THAT WOULD BE A ‘HOTBED OF INNOVATION’ AND BRING £910 MILLION TO THE AREA EVERY YEAR
A HUGE new business park in South Derbyshire could create nearly 20,000 jobs, a council leader has claimed.
The planned East Midlands Intermodal Park, opposite Toyota, near Etwall, Egginton, and Willington, would have 10,600 jobs on site, rising to a total of 19,900 jobs when including those connected to the site.
Cllr Barry Lewis, leader of Derbyshire County Council said the site could bring £910 million into the area each year.
He said it would provide a rail freight interchange, taking many vehicles transporting goods off the roads, and would include innovation in partnership with Toyota into hydrogen technology and “green fuel”.
Cllr Lewis said this would create a “hotbed for innovation” and “supercharge” the local economy, including for businesses such as Nestle and JCB.
He said the site would allow firms such as Toyota and Bombardier to bring their supply chain into the region to cut down on costs, bringing those jobs from around the UK and the world, to the East Midlands. Sceptics have raised concerns that this would leave areas where those businesses are currently based with a job and economic drought. During a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Cllr Lewis said the authority would work to mitigate any negative impacts of the plan and wider freeport (area with tax concessions for business) aims for the East Midlands.
The full business case for the site is due to be filed in the autumn. Cllr Tony King, cabinet member for clean growth and regeneration, said: “I have huge excitement about it. It is a huge project and there will be enormous opportunities for investment.
“A lot of huge opportunities will be in hugely innovative areas, particularly in hydrogen energy, in cooperation with Toyota.
“It will give existing businesses huge opportunities to bring their supply chains in and will benefit significantly our existing supply chain.
“There is a lot of talk and focus on jobs and the number of jobs, but it is also the opportunity to promote high security jobs.”
Cllr Lewis agreed that the scheme would aim to provide quality jobs, particularly in technology.
The intermodal park off the A50/ A38 roundabout at Toyota would include 5.2 million sq ft of manufacturing and distribution space.
The total East Midlands Freeport, at sites across the region, including Etwall, is expected to create 60,000 jobs.
South Derbyshire MP Heather Wheeler has previously expressed support for the scheme.
Writing in her column for the Burton Mail on February 18 this year, she said: “Locally, D2N2 and neighbouring Local Enterprise Partnerships have jointly put in a bid for a Freeport. It will be a novel Freeport based around three sites; Ratcliffe on Soar power station, linked to East Midlands Airport and then linked to us by land for a rail head off the A50 and A38 opposite Toyota. This is an exciting project and one I am delighted to support, it will bring jobs and confirm our place as the Engine Room of the UK.
“I am aware there are concerns from our local villages in South Derbyshire about possible disruption during construction of the rail head. I can assure them if the bid is successful, which I hope it is, I will work with the developers to minimise any disruption and ensure that local residents have a voice.”
Concerned villagers in Etwall and Egginton have formed the Freeport Resident Action Group. They fear that the site will see a huge increase in air, light and noise pollution, destruction of wildlife habitats, increased traffic, more associated house building and years of construction disruption.
They have a Facebook page at www. facebook.com/freeportresident actiongroup
I have huge excitement about it. It is a huge project and there will be enormous opportunities for investment.
Cllr Tony King