The launch of work on a new £30 million logistics park on a disused coal distribution site could create around 1,000 new jobs in the Ashby area. Details of the proposed G Park project on the former UK Coal Lounge Coal Preparation and Disposal Point east of Ashby have been submitted to planners at North West Leicestershire District Council by warehousing builder Gazeley.
£19 million have been paid last year for the 66-acre site. Gazeley, which also owns Magna Park near Lutterworth, is preparing its own scheme despite the previous owners securing planning permission for a distribution centre at the Lounge site. The company believes this could create nearly 1,000 new jobs and boost the local economy by £48 million. The new complex would be operational 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
In documents presented to North West Leicestershire District Council last week, the firm says between 740 and 910 full time jobs would be created directly by the new operation and a further 490 posts in the wider area as a result of the economic growth. It also believes between 210 and 290 building jobs would be created in the construction phase.
“At this time construction, following attainment of appropriate planning permissions, is anticipated to commence in the summer of 2019 and be completed in autumn 2020 (i.e. approximately 15 months). It will be operational by autumn 2020,” said a spokesman for Gazeley.
The documents state that because of the site’s former use distributing coal from nearby mines a considerable amount of de-contamination will be required. The Gazeley scheme will be split into two zones. The first will be made up of a 70,000 square metre distribution complex and offices while the second will include parking, vehicle stacking lanes and other transport facilities.
If given the green light, the site of the new logistics building would be accessed off Corkscrew Lane. The impact of developing such a large industrial estate will be debated by councillors sitting on North West Leicestershire District Council after a formal planning application is considered. Hundreds of people objected to the previous plans, submitted in 2012, to develop the site although the plans were subsequently approved.
