I consider this sham democracy. The 700,000 sq mtr is the exact measurement of two planning applications to be considered in November 2017. If the applications are approved, then the 700,000 sq mtr in the Local Plan will be used up before its confirmation. This pointless and also makes the Consultation pointless as a decision will be made before our views are heard. 100,000 sq mtr has already been approved so that only leaves 600,000sq mtr. The 700,000 sq mtr stated is an error and overstates the Harborough District Council's own perceived need.
Key Issue 3 states that the Local Plan should be contributing significantly to the wider sub-regional land requirements for road based strategic distribution business space.
I believe the proposal is opportunistic, does not meet local employment needs & is not strategic but income drive.
There are research reports that suggest that demand for non rail warehousing across Leicestershire is less than the 700,000 sq mtr quoted in the plan. By not spreading the need across the county, Lutterworth will suffer an over supply of warehousing.

Harborough District Council was advised by Consultants that its choice of the level of development at Magna Park would be a political decision. Placing such a large amount of warehousing around Magna Park would deprive other parts of the county of this employment opportunity but also encourage those living in other parts of the county to drive to Magna Park, thereby adding to the pollution around Lutterworth that already fails the pollution levels.
Since the research reports for the plan were commissioned 100,000sq mtr has already been approved. Also, in the last couple of years, since these reports a million square meters of warehousing have been approved within a few miles of Magna Park. It could be argued that this area already has an over supply of warehouse land being developed.
Key Issue 3 also states "reducing dependence of Harborough's residents on commuting and increase wage rates by providing a breadth of employment alternatives, including more opportunities for Harborough's higher skilled residents..."
The District has very low employment rate indeed. This is particularly so in the Lutterworth area where the 700,000 sq mtrs is proposed. Magna Park employers already have great difficulty recruiting. This is being exacerbated by DIRFT which is way ahead on its development, Rugby & East Midlands amongst others. These developments are recruiting out of the same small pot of suitably qualified individuals.
The majority of current employees at Magna Park commute into the area. Due to the negligible unemployment in the area, in-commuting would be increased excessively. The local major and minor roads are already overcrowded and come to standstill if there is an accident on M1, M6 or M69 as all traffic is sent along the A5. If the movement of people after Brexit is reduced it is difficult to see how these additional employees will be recruited. Many current employees are from other countries within Europe. Already many are returning home where earnings have increased or moving to other EU countries. This probably because many jobs at Magna Park are low wage or zero hours - referred by local recruitment companies as flexible hour contracts.
10,000 plus extra jobs at Magna Park will increase in-commuting and not reduce out-commuting as claimed. If the jobs were relevant to the out-commuting people of Harborough & more importantly Lutterworth (and vice versa) then the out-commuting would already have been reduced materially.
The NPPF states that the preference is for warehouse/distribution sites to be placed on railheads. Magna Park is not a railhead. There are already other railhead warehouse/distribution sites nearby and another planned near the M69/A5 junction.
Midlands Connect Strategy 2017-2030 already recognizes the inadequacy of the A5. The strategy does not include any major upgrading of the A5 around Magna Park before the end of this period - 2030. The many extra HGV's, other distribution vehicles and 10,000 in-commuting employees will add to the already overcrowded roads. This will lead to even more congestion and pollution. The congestion will cause delay to all, an increase in rat-running through small villages with narrow roads. All this will impact on businesses & employees beyond those at Magna Park. The local economy will suffer rather than improve.