2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Ellie Brown)
A business park set to create 1,000 jobs will be built on the outskirts of Coventry despite local concerns. Developers have gained the final go-ahead to build the industrial site on former green belt fields near the M6 . City councillors approved further details known as reserved matters of the huge scheme between the A444, Pickards Way and Wilsons Lane last week (17 April.
) The meeting also heard Nuneaton and Bedworth council, in which most of the land is located, had granted permission for the project. It means logistics giant Panattoni can start work on building three large units and parking on the 55-acre site. Councillors unanimously approved the bid at the meeting despite 90 people raising concerns over the scheme's "scale and layout" in a petition.
READ MORE: Major Coventry development near M6 could go-ahead as 'prime' land sold Plans for huge development off A444 near Coventry get go-ahead after appeal Resident Michael Fell told the planning committee they believe plans are "overdevelopment"and "unsustainable in this location." He asked if conditions could be imposed so roads and sewers are not constructed after buildings go up. He claimed: "We are not NIMBYs in Longford.
We just want answers to our questions and protections put in place." Petition sponsor, local councillor Linda Bigham (Longford, Labour ), stressed residents' concerns about an apparent change to the site's access set out in a construction plan for the project. She asked if there had been a mistake with the document.
Cllr Bigham also asked about protection for locals during building work and mitigation of light pollution and noise from units. "There are so many unanswered questions remaining about this site which should have been answered by this stage," she claimed. But officials had recommended plans be approved by the council at the meeting.
Responding to the pair, a council planning officer confirmed the construction plan for the site in a separate application does have the wrong access point but they will get this corrected before the council signs it off. This separate application also has details of how the impact of construction on residents will be dealt with, she told the meeting. Plans are not considered to be overdevelopment as they are in line with what was agreed at an earlier 'outline' planning stage, she added.
Another official confirmed the site's access and other details are fully in line with the 'outline' proposals. She said other details of the scheme were also considered at this earlier stage and only the layout, appearance and scale are being decided now. A representative for Panattoni UK stressed that access arrangements have not changed since the scheme received outline permission in 2023.
He said plans will have a network of walking an cycling links and a large area of open space accessible to the public. Planned buildings are "significantly" lower than the maximum height allowed and have been moved further away from homes, he added. Other matters including drainage have been agreed and the site will have landscaping to help screen it from residents, he said.
He claimed they had taken on board concerns raised by locals after holding meetings with residents and councillors. He also told the meeting of the plans' "significance." He said: "In economic terms it will provide in the region of 1,000 new jobs including within the local supply chains.
It will deliver a high-quality employment space in a well-located location." After the decision, committee chair Cllr Lindlsey Harvard (Longford, Labour) praised the "very good case" put forward by Cllr Bigham and Mr Fell. "But our hands are tied unfortunately," he said.
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