New town developers raise Freeport concerns

Developers behind proposals to build a whole new Leicestershire town[1] have now objected to a huge warehousing scheme over traffic fears. The Harworth Group and Caesarea filed their concerns over the East Midlands Freeport plan with North West Leicestershire District Council[2] in the past week. The two companies are the masterminds of a plan to create a 4,500-home town at Isley Woodhouse[3], near East Midlands Airport (EMA)[4].

A huge 316-acre swathe of land, currently made up of two farms, surrounding fields, hedgerows and trees, has been suggested as the possible location for the new town, which would have a population second only to Coalville[5] and Ashby[6] in the district if it is built. The site is one of the locations suggested to the council for inclusion in its local plan - a document which sets out where building projects can take place in an area. Writing to the council, they raised concerns that the organisation behind the Freeport plan - Manchester Airports Group (MAG) - had not considered the "cumulative impacts" of all the possible developments in the area, including theirs.

If approved[7] by NWLDC, the warehouses would sit on 102 acres of countryside south of EMA, stretching to the edge of Diseworth village. READ MORE: Case dropped against Leicestershire Police officer accused of inappropriately touching female colleague[8] The Freeport plan proposes eight units spread across the land, with 80 per cent of the site made for storage and distribution purposes.

The remainder would be used by general industry. The Harworth Group and Caesarea said in their objection there are "a number of" site around EMA suggested for development through the local plan process. These will "collectively have a cumulative transport[9] impact in the area", they added.

These need to be "appropriately assessed", the groups believe. They said they will maintain their objection until that has happened. Concerns about the size of the plan have long been expressed by residents.

These include fears Diseworth will be "suffocated" and the project will result in the "wanton destruction" of the countryside. Residents have formed the action group Protect Diseworth and called on MAG to pick another location[10]. However, MAG, which owns EMA, insists the scheme will bring thousands of jobs into the area and "act as a catalyst for economic regeneration" there.

Traffic concerns were also raised by local MP Amanda Hack shortly after she took office in July. She said increased traffic in the area would be "detrimental" for the village and would increase noise and air pollution locally[11]. EMA's managing director Steve Griffiths previously said the outline project had "carefully considered"[12] Diseworth and any impacts on it.

He said: "The proposals we have submitted to the council outline how we have carefully considered the 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."

Overall, the Freeport aims to create 28,000 new jobs[13] across the three sites. MAG says more than 2,000 would be created in Leicestershire - with 174 people employed over the two-year construction period.

Outline plans for the Freeport were submitted to NWLDC in June[14]. This means the authority will consider the principle of the scheme, with the full details to be submitted at a later date. No decision has yet been made on the outline proposals.

The NWLDC local plan is still in the draft phases. It would need to be considered by a Government planning inspector and approved by the council before it can be adopted. NWLDC has predicted it will have to create 686 homes a year between now and 2040 to meet the demands of a growing population.

The new plan will run retroactively from 2020 to 2023 if approved, meaning the 2,396 properties built in the last three years would contribute to the target.

Sites have been arranged for a further 6,763 homes, some of which are already under construction, or already have or are set to be granted planning permission.

However, this still leaves 5,693 to organise.

References

1. ^ whole new Leicestershire town (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
2. ^ North West Leicestershire District Council (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
3. ^ create a 4,500-home town at Isley Woodhouse (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
4. ^ East Midlands Airport (EMA) (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
5. ^ Coalville (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
6. ^ Ashby (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
7. ^ approved (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
8. ^ Case dropped against Leicestershire Police officer accused of inappropriately touching female colleague (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
9. ^ transport (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
10. ^ to pick another location (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
11. ^ increased traffic in the area would be "detrimental" for the village and would increase noise and air pollution locally (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
12. ^ "carefully considered" (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
13. ^ new jobs (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
14. ^ Outline plans for the Freeport were submitted to NWLDC in June (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)