I do not feel the proposal to expand Magna Park by 700,000m2 is sound for the reasons below:
The local plan should "contribute significantly to wider sub-regional requirements for road based strategic distribution business space" but in this instance there is no evidence that there is a need for this amount of this type of development in this one place. There is already a large amount of warehousing along the A5 corridor, much of it linked to a rail head and it would seem to offer a broader range to the potential employment opportunities to allow other areas of Leicestershire to pick up a larger part of the development allocation.

The proposal matches planning applications which have already been submitted. These applications were contra to the previous local plan, which felt Magna Park had expanded sufficiently. This proposal now seems as if it is only included to take advantage of an arising opportunity and not because it is a rationally thought through scheme and offering the best solution for the area.

Further the local plan should "reduce the dependence of Harborough's residents on commuting and increasing wage rates by providing a breadth of employment opportunities" but in this instance most of the employment opportunities provided by the proposed warehouses are low skilled and low paid. Unemployment figures in Harborough District are low and the majority of current employees at Magna Park are commuting in from outside the area. There is no need, within the district, for yet more jobs of this nature.

I am deeply concerned about any development which increases traffic on this part of the A5, a road already identified in the Midlands Connect Strategy 2017-2030 as inadequate, with no accompanying proposals for upgrading. More commuters and more warehousing will mean more HGVs and more commuting cars, putting pressure on smooth traffic flow, increased accident risk, poor air quality and noise pollution, which will bring no benefits to local residents. Local groups have produced plentiful evidence showing that further development at Magna Park will bring no benefit and will adversely affect the local area and its residents but HDC has refused
to take any account of this evidence and has persisted in pushing forward these proposals. They are currently planning to consider the 2 relevant development applications before this Local Plan has been approved or even considered by the Inspector, which seems to demonstrate a complete lack of will to give consideration to valid representations or due process.