Planning permission has been granted for a gateway commercial scheme adjacent the M1 and East Midlands Airport on behalf of Litton Properties.
DPP have secured consent for 3,000sqm of commercial space across four units adjacent to the M1 and at a gateway to East Midlands Airport. The units, which were designed by The Harris Partnership and will be delivered by Litton Properties, are targeted at SME businesses looking for smaller units to start or grow their business in the area.
DPP led the planning element of the scheme from inception, helping shape the proposals and preparing supporting documents including an Economic Needs Assessment. This Assessment was required due to the site being located within the countryside and not being allocated. As such, extensive research was required to demonstrate that there was an immediate demand or need for the additional floorspace beyond that stated in the Local Plan. The DPP report demonstrated that the amount and type of land allocated within the Local Plan was insufficient for the duration of the plan period, especially when it came to smaller units such as that proposed.
DPP also assisted in collating a team of consultants that prepared a suite of necessary information to support the planning application, monitored it through to a decision, and assisted with drafting the planning conditions. Development is expected to start on site later this year.
Speaking about the consent, Will Marshall, Principal Planner at DPP said:
We are delighted to have secured this consent which will become a prominent feature on the M1 motorway and as passengers fly into East Midlands Airport. Designed for SME businesses, the development will provide much needed space for smaller companies looking to start or grow in the region. It has also been pleasing to overcome the planning hurdle of an unallocated site in the countryside which required extensive research into the Local Plan and what the demands of NW Leicestershire and the East Midlands will be in the future.
Image: The Harris Partnership
