Residents oppose 'concrete jungle' warehouse plans

An artist's impression of what one of the warehouse buildings could look like

Plans to build a large warehouse complex on farmland have been met with opposition by residents.

Harworth Estates Investments Ltd submitted plans to build five large warehouses and three smaller units on Nunnery Farm, near the A14 in Rothwell, Northamptonshire - despite backlash from locals.

The developers claim the complex would create 3,000 jobs and generate £238m for the local economy each year.

But residents have hit back at the plans, with some saying it could become a "concrete jungle".

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, locals are also concerned the development is too big, will cause "traffic chaos" and will "upset the natural landscape".

The planning application has been submitted to North Northamptonshire Council, which will decide whether to approve or reject the development.

Rothwell Town Council voted unanimously to object to the plans.

Graham Ferrie, director of Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Northamptonshire, called the proposals "inappropriate".

The proposals initially prompted the creation of the local campaign group Rothwell Against Warehousing (RAW), which held a meeting to hear the developer's plans to turn the area into an "employment zone".

Speaking at the meeting, Graham Ferrie, director of Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Northamptonshire, said the proposals were "inappropriate".

"Building warehouses at the end of Rothwell is not the answer to growth.

"This is not about employment, it's about making a quick profit for the developer," he said.

'No greenery left'

Christine Clarke, a Rothwell resident, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) it will turn the area into a "concrete jungle".

She said: "It's shocking. If we don't stop this, it's going to go from one field onto another to another until there's no greenery left around here at all.

"It's the youngsters growing up – I've got a little grandson and I want him to grow up seeing fields and trees, not corporate buildings."

The developers had previously held a consultation with residents prior to submitting the application at the end of last year.

A survey, which attracted more than 500 responses, found that 75% of people were strongly opposed.

Steve Hawthorn, a representative of RAW, added that the plans are "totally irresponsible".

"RAW support responsible development, but the scale of this plan is totally irresponsible and completely oversized for the rural area," he said.

'Significant investment'

A spokesperson for Harworth said the company "recognise the concerns raised regarding the protection of the local countryside, traffic and local employment".

They added: "We are proposing a net gain in biodiversity through tree planting and habitat creation and our plans also include significant investment in local infrastructure, including highway works to help improve traffic flow.

"Importantly, this development will provide a range of high-quality job opportunities for the local economy, supporting both local workers and the wider regional economy."

The developer added it "will continue to engage with the local community" as well as with North Northamptonshire Council "to address all technical matters".

The deadline to submit comments on the planning application is February 14.