Huge new warehouses in ‘core Golden Triangle’ could create 1,700 jobs

Two huge new warehouses on a motorway-side industrial park on the Derbyshire border could create more than 1,700 new jobs. The planned expansion of Mercia Park, at junction 11 of the M42 and the A444[1], just south of Overseal[2] and Neverseal, would create up to 1,720 new jobs through the construction of two huge new warehouses. If approved, the warehouse would be built on the section of land between the M42 and A444, opposite the existing site which contains seven warehouses utilised by Jaguar Land Rover's Global Logistics Centre,[3] Molson Coors, DSV and an electrical accessories manufacturer.

This was completed in March 2023 and has so far created 2,500 jobs and around GBP150 million in investment from companies. South Derbyshire District Council[4] is being consulted as part of the plans, despite being situated in Leicestershire, due to its significant impact on the wider area. If approved by North West Leicestershire District Council the plans would include a new roundabout on the A444.

The site is said to sit in the "core Golden Triangle" for strategic distribution comprising the area between Leicester, Rugby and Coventry where "excellent" road links (M42, M6, M1, M69) mean most major population centres are within a four and a half hour drive". Overseal Parish Council has already submitted numerous proposed changes including scrapping the planned new roundabout in favour of a slip road "so that the traffic along the A444 is unimpeded".

It is firmly objecting to the plans, writing: "The A444 is our village Main Street and splits the village in two. The road and pavements are narrow, with some houses opening directly onto the street.

Since the original Mercia Park development began operations, HGV traffic has increased considerably and caused significant distress to residents, some of whom are trying to move away from the village but are unable to sell their houses because of the traffic. "The proposed distribution unit will add still more HGV traffic, the cumulative effect of which would be severe. Pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists in our village are becoming at serious risk due to the ever-increasing heavy traffic.

We have children who are too frightened to walk to school along the road, so they have to be taken by car. "Many of our residents use J11 as part of their commute to and from work. They are already seeing long queues at that junction and the prospect of an additional roundabout, so close to it, will exacerbate matters." Documents submitted with the plans detail: "The proposed development is for strategic employment which will build upon the success of Mercia Park.

"Mercia Park has been hugely successful in delivering a 3.5 million sq ft logistics development. The proposed development will lead to likely significant effects on landscape relating to the change in character (of open countryside to built form) and to existing open views across arable fields (being disrupted by built form). "The proposals include extensive mitigation measures for both the construction and operation stage and have been designed to minimise impacts upon the landscape as far as possible.

The proposed development has been developed to meet an immediate demand and immediate market need for large-scale industrial and logistics units." Busses from Burton and Swadlincote to the site were started in April 2023, along with a second route from Tamworth, both aligning with shift patterns at the industrial complex. Plans for the new buildings show the same designs as the existing units, with cladding to be coloured in greys and blues in a bid to mask the complex into the horizon.

The new units are likely to be accommodated by logistics firm DSV, following its acquisition of DB Schenker, with this not yet confirmed due to ongoing negotiations, the plans detail.

References

1. ^ A444 (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
2. ^ Overseal (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
3. ^ Jaguar Land Rover's Global Logistics Centre, (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
4. ^ South Derbyshire District Council (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)