Magna Park decision – appeal allowed

Following a public inquiry at the Harborough District Council chamber, which concluded earlier this month, the planning inspector leading the inquiry ruled that planning permission should be granted to IDI Gazeley to build a storage and distribution centre, country park, Logistics Institute of Technology and other facilities, at land at Mere Lane, Bittesby.

In November 2017, Harborugh District Council's planning committee resolved to approve the planning application; however this was subsequently 'called-in' which meant the application was re-considered by Full Council. This took place at an extraordinary Council meeting on 10 January 2018, held at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground and Aerodrome, when Full Council resolved to refuse the planning application after listening to a number of speakers for and against the application.

Following the appeal inquiry, the inspector allowed the appeal ruling that the benefits of the proposal outweighed any harm that had been identified as part of the consideration of the application and appeal.