Plans to expand business park near M1 progress

Work to expand a business park close to the M1 in Nottinghamshire can begin after the government decided not to review the scheme.

Ashfield District Council gave the go-ahead for a "logistics and manufacturing campus" to be built at Sherwood Business Park in Annesley in October.

Some of the expansion across 26.32 hectares of farmland east of junction 27 and north of the A608 will be on green belt land, meaning the application had to be considered by the government.

However, in a letter to the authority, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has said the secretary of state was "content that it should be determined by the local planning authority".

The district council will now consider the detailed plan for the development.

In total, 65,000 sq m of floorspace will be constructed at the site and a new access road will be created off Willow Drive.

Some residents had previously objected to the scheme, raising concerns about the loss in countryside and increase in traffic.

When the plans were approved in October, district council leader Jason Zadrozny said the project would create 600 jobs a year during the construction and 1,000 jobs on completion.

He also said it would add more than £50m to the district's economy.

David Martin, chairman of Selston Parish Council and a county councillor, said the development would "be a massive benefit" for the local area.

"This is investment that puts Ashfield at the economic heart of our region," he said.

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