Harborough District Council has approved IDI Gazeley’s application to build a 101,000 square metre distribution and storage centre at the Magna Park business park near Lutterworth. This is the second time the council has had to consider the application, which it had approved in January but had to reconsider following legal advice.

The new facility will be used by DHL, which will be on the north west of Mere Lane near Bittesby. This will be a storage and distribution facility as well as ancillary infrastructure. The plans were approved in January but had to be reconsidered due to legal advice because it is within the area of the Medieval village of Bittesby, a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The council had to reconsider the planning application to ensure that their deliberations allowed for the proper and robust interpretation and application of national policy.

The new Magna Park site will include the creation of roundabouts, a partial realignment of Mere Lane, as well as the upgrading of the A5 road to a dual carriageway. Magna Park will have an access road built and a gatehouse will be added to the site. Drainage facilities and associated infrastructure and landscaping works will also be put in place as part of the site.

Harborough District Council planning and regeneration portfolio holder Cllr Jo Brodrick said: “It was of the utmost importance to the council that this application was reconsidered in order to make sure all national planning policy is taken into account. This has been done and a decision reached.

“I would like to thank those who gave their time to speak at the meeting.”