Plans for a hi-tech manufacturing and office park on the outskirts of a county town have been held-up over access.
Wilson Bowden Developments wants to build a science park on 100 acres of farmland next to junction 23 of the M1 at Loughborough, north Leicestershire.
The multi-million pound scheme would provide more than 960,000 sq ft of employment space and could create up to 4,000 jobs.
Planning officers had originally recommended the plans be approved, subject to various conditions.
However, councillors have deferred a decision due to concerns over access onto Snells Nook Lane.
The application said the main access would be on to the A512 Ashby Road, but there would be two secondary access points on to the smaller lane.
As part of a general consultation into the plans, various issues were raised about the impact on the lane, including the affect on its appearance and existing traffic problems.
A council spokesman said: “The plans committee agreed to defer the application and ask the applicant to reconsider whether there was a need for two access points off Snell’s Nook Lane.
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“The application will be reconsidered at a future meeting.”
A spokeswoman for the developer – which is part of the Coalville-based Barratt group – said: “Wilson Bowden Developments will continue to work with the council on this important scheme for Charnwood and we look forward to a positive decision on this development which has been firmly supported by the council’s officers and is consistent with the council’s adopted plan for the site.”
Pending future planning permission, the scheme would sit to the west of the existing Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park (LUSEP), and help cement the town’s growing reputation as a hub for hi-technology at the very heart of the country.
There are already around 50 organisations at LUSEP – employing more than 2,500 people – including drug company Nemaura Pharma and hydrogen fuel cell developer Intelligent Energy.
Earlier this month BusinessLive reported how business software company The Access Group, which is valued at £1 billion, planned to create hundreds of jobs at a new central England headquarters currently under construction there.
It will be a year before Access moves onto LUSEP, but management are already thinking about having a second building next door.
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Many of the other businesses and organisations based there have sports and health connections, reflecting Loughborough’s position as a leading sports science university.
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As well space for new business, the Wilson Bowden scheme could also have a central hub area featuring office space for smaller start-up and grow-on businesses.
There could also be a 100 bedroom hotel and conference facilities, shops such as a convenience store, hairdressers, florists and newsagents and space for banks, restaurants, cafes and maybe a pub as well as a nursery and gym.
The application co-incides with £27 million or investment currently being made in transport connections around Loughborough, including widening the A512, which runs parallel to the site, and changes to Junction 23 of the M1 – which are needed to unlock land for 4,000 new homes nearby.
Planning documents submitted on behalf of the development state: “LUSEP is already a focus for high growth advanced technology businesses, including being the base for Intelligent Energy.
“The proposed development at land to the west of Snells Nook Lane will unlock and enable the delivery of yet further key economic growth opportunities, driving forward the growth strategy of the science and enterprise park.
“The proposed science and enterprise park at land to the west of Snells Nook Lane will bring forward significant opportunities for economic growth in the region, maintaining strong links with the knowledge-based sector, whilst also allowing for innovative new enterprises, including the development of advanced new manufacturing.”
There have been at least 21 letters of objection from residents and from Loughborough University itself, concerned with issues such as the loss of farmland and open space as well as congestion, noise and pollution, while the existing LUSEP site already has enough room for expansion.
The existing enterprise park is already one of the largest developments of its kind and is part of a new Enterprise Zone, which attracts tax breaks and simpler planning regulations.