Fears of ‘desired destruction’ amid 102-acre East Midlands Freeport plan

East Midlands Freeport bosses have vowed to continue meeting villagers who will be affected by the major distribution and logistics plan, amid claims it will lead to the “willing destruction” of the countryside. More than 100 acres of land in Leicestershire are to be swallowed up by the scheme, which aims to bring an investment boost to the region.

Outline plans for the Leicestershire stretch of Freeport emerged last week and will see eight warehouses spread over land south of East Midlands Airport (EMA) in Castle Donington. The site would take up 102 acres of land to Hyam’s Lane in Diseworth – but villagers have long feared the scheme could badly affect their lives.

Action group Protect Diseworth previously labeled the project “willful and unnecessary destruction” of greenfields, claiming it would also destroy rural life for residents. Officials at EMA’s owners, Manchester Airports Group (MAG), disagree, however, and claim the masterplan has been “carefully considered” with residents in mind.

READ MORE: Councilor ‘will not be told how to vote’ during ‘Bosworth Bell Tower’ debate.

READ MORE: BBC One Leicestershire Gladiators star Zack George’s inspirational weight loss journey

If approved, the Freeport will be accessed from the A453 and will become the first of three sites in the region to play a part in the wider East Midlands Freeport project. The other two would be located at the East Midlands Intermodal Park (EMIP) in South Derbyshire and the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station redevelopment site in Nottingham.

Overall, Freeport aims to create 28,000 new jobs across the three locations. At Castle Donington, MAG says more than 2,000 will be created in Leicestershire – with 174 people employed during the two-year construction period.

However, the plan is mired in controversy and fear from residents. Long Whatton and Diseworth Parish Council have previously spoken of their “extreme concerns” for the site, saying its effects and existing problems with the EMA would make the problems “immense” for villagers.

They also claim approval of the scheme would leave Diseworth “locked out” of freight and distribution centres. They fear it would add “significantly” to the pressures villagers already face.

MAG, however, believes the scheme will ease residents’ fears. In the documents, they said “significant landscaping” would create a sound buffer from the site and Diseworth, while green space near the village had been “maximised” to ensure disruption was limited. Height limits on the proposed warehouse will also be in place to prevent visual disturbance.

EMA chief executive Steve Griffiths said Diseworth residents would be kept informed throughout the planning process. He said: “The proposals we have submitted to the council highlight how we have carefully considered the opportunities and constraints of the site, seeking to strike a balance between the need for such a development and the potential impact on the environment and local residents. We have met and will continue to meet members of Diseworth Parish Council and community groups and aim to address their concerns in our proposals.”

Freeport bosses are also hoping for benefits from the scheme. Tom Newman-Taylor, the project’s chief executive, believed Freeport could “act as a catalyst for economic regeneration” in the region and help boost decarbonisation efforts in the area as well.

Final designs for the warehouses will emerge at a later stage in the process, with the overall scheme currently before North West Leicestershire District Council. They will make a decision at a later date.

Now we bring you the latest updates on WhatsApp first