Adjacent council objects to £80m distribution HQ

Pall-Ex said the new site would be their UK and European headquarters

A district council has written to its neighbouring authority to object to plans for a new freight distribution hub.

Pall-Ex Group wants to build a new base on greenfield land between Station Road and Wood Road near Bagworth, Leicestershire, about half a mile from its current home.

But North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) has told Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council (HBBC) the application "adversely impacts highway infrastructure within the district".

The planning agent for the firm said the proposal was "in favour of sustainable development" and the adverse impacts of the site "would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits".

HBBC is expected to make a decision on the application later this year.

The firm said its new "Centre of Excellence" will cover 408,000sq ft on a 14.2-hectare site.

The £80 million facility would serve as the "flagship logistics hub" for the network and house Pall-Ex's UK and European headquarters.

In planning documents submitted to HBBC, Pall-Ex said it has explored multiple options, but there was "nothing available that meet their requirements".

The firm added the site would generate 400 to 500 jobs and 405 to 540 temporary construction-related jobs.

The proposed site plan where the firm want to build their new site

Pall-Ex currently operates a site further north of Station Road in the North West Leicestershire District Council area but the new site would be situated within the Hinckley & Bosworth district.

Jenny Davies, planning and development team manager at NWLDC, said the development would lead to more traffic and further discussion was needed.

"The proposed development could also adversely impact on the highway infrastructure within NWL and the submitted noise assessment does not adequately address the noise implications" for residential areas, she said.

A resident in Bagworth also lodged an objection and said the road infrastructure was "unsuitable" for the proposal and "will lead to congestion, road safety issues, and an overwhelming increase in heavy goods vehicles traffic through the village".