Plans for a huge new logistics hub at St Johns, Enderby, have been rejected by planning officers following concerns that it would swallow up the countryside and clog up the roads.
The decision was made to refuse permission for the Enderby Logistics Hub at a meeting of Blaby District Council last Thursday 5 October.
The application, from the Drummond Estate and Inverock Trust, included plans for four warehouses, offices, gatehouses and, potentially, a training and education centre.
The hub would have been used as a storage and distribution centre with new access off Leicester Lane.
The site had been assessed and earmarked for employment use during the last local plan accepted in 2019.
However, after lengthy discussion and representations from objectors as well as the applicant, planning committee councillors decided to reject the proposal.
Councillor Lee Breckon, Chairman of the planning committee, said: “While the recommendation from officers was for approval, Councillors were not satisfied with the proposals before them and the potential impact on the local community. Disappointingly, the majority decision was to refuse the application.”
Residents had previously raised concerns about loss of countryside and increased traffic around the development, which would have created an estimated 1,500 jobs. However, residents argued that Blaby District does not need more jobs as unemployment is low.
A petition calling on councillors to block the scheme gathered over 1,400 signatures.
The application can be viewed at Search for Applications using reference 19/0164/OUT
