BE2 2a.

I am concerned about the current levels of traffic, road infrastructure, pollution and safety in the local region that will end up backing onto the proposed development. The current roads between villages that surround the area are already becoming 'rat runs' for traffic at high speed in rural areas.
The areas are badly lit and pedestrian and wildlife is not readily seen and footpaths are in short supply.

The proposed 2 additional spaces adjoining onto Magna Park will be too big for the local infrastructure, making a massive impact on local traffic and highways

This sentence is written to favour two outline applications pending since 2015. It conflicts with the council's existing Core Strategy (2011), which ruled out any expansion of Magna Park because there were '"more suitable sites elsewhere". The submission doesn't now deny that there are more suitable sites elsewhere or claim that Magna Park is now the only suitable site, and ignores developments in the county which have already met forecast need to 2031.
The Sustainability Appraisal prepared by AECOM, (print version dated August 2017, on-line version dated September 2017) in time for the adoption by the Council of the draft, states that "Completions and commitments in the district and across the HMA are sufficient to meet minimum need without selecting a site for allocation." The plan ignores the approximately 175,000 sq.m at Rugby Gateway adjoining junction 1 of the M5, about 6 miles from Magna Park.
and the 180,000 sq.m. included in Rugby's draft local plan submitted for examination in July 2017. It is as if Harborough District were an independent island state!

This is not effective as it would lead to an oversupply of warehousing in the area as there have been millions of square meters agreed within this area over the past years,

There is no evidence of the process that the call for sites has lead to the figures outlined here and in the suggested location. It has not been a transparent process since the consultation in 2015 and the location and allocation is clearly based on 2 existing applications that are due for decision before this Local Plan will be approved.

The existing site is big enough to meet local warehousing needs. There are empty units on the existing site and I believe this to be a purely speculative aspect of the plan, constructed to include two outstanding planning applications that have been heavily criticised as too large and surplus to the needs of the Harborough area.

The existing Magna Park is a Brownfield site distribution should not be based on adjacent Green field sites just because the Magna park owners have a historic option on the land to purchase at lower historic land values. in conflict with a scheduled ancient monument site.

The allocation of 700,000 sq. m. is fundamentally different from previous consultation documents, this figure has not been tested through consultation. There are two outstanding planning applications for warehousing in this area totalling 700,000 sq. m. These statements underpin the view of the Parish Council that the allocation of 700,000 sq. m. is not a strategic allocation, it is an allocation to accommodate approval of the two outstanding planning applications for warehousing in this area. In HDC's existing Core Strategy (2011) Policy CS7h clearly states 'Protect Magna Park's unique role as a strategic distribution centre (B8 uses / Min unit size 10,000m2) of national significance and an exemplar of environmental performance. No further phase of development or large scale expansion of the site, beyond the existing development footprint (to be defined in the Allocations DPD) will be supported'. One of the explanations provided for this statement is that 'there are more suitable locations and sites (both rail and non rail-linked) than Magna Park within the region and sub-region to meet forecast need for strategic distribution to 2026'. The Local Plan does not deny that there are more suitable sites elsewhere, neither does it claim that Magna Park is now the only suitable site.

The allocation of 700,000 sq. m. is fundamentally different from previous consultation documents, this figure has not been tested through consultation. There are two outstanding planning applications for warehousing in this area totalling 700,000 sq. m. These statements underpin the view of the Parish Council that the allocation of 700,000 sq. m. is not a strategic allocation, it is an allocation to accommodate approval of the two outstanding planning applications for warehousing in this area. In HDC's existing Core Strategy (2011) Policy CS7h clearly states 'Protect Magna Park's unique role as a strategic distribution centre (B8 uses / Min unit size 10,000m2) of national significance and an exemplar of environmental performance. No further phase of development or large scale expansion of the site, beyond the existing development footprint (to be defined in the Allocations DPD) will be supported'. One of the explanations provided for this statement is that 'there are more suitable locations and sites (both rail and non rail-linked) than Magna Park within the region and sub-region to meet forecast need for strategic distribution to 2026'. The Local Plan does not deny that there are more suitable sites elsewhere, neither does it claim that Magna Park is now the only suitable site.