Councillors say they are worried after permission given for huge new unit to be built at Magna Park

The huge 70,000 square metre complex was backed by Harborough District Council’s planning committee on Tuesday night.

The distribution hub will include ancillary offices, security gatehouse, security fence, vehicle wash, fuel station, sprinkler tank and vehicle maintenance unit.

Sitting on land by Glebe Farm on Coventry Road, Lutterworth, it will be accessed from Magna Park Lutterworth South estate road.

The council’s planning officers recommended that the giant blueprint be approved.

But Cllr Rosita Page, who represents Ullesthorpe, slammed the ambitious multi-million pound project.

Cllr Page insisted that by making the logistics centre longer and higher by three metres the applicant, Gazeley UK Ltd, were “increasing floorspace by stealth”.

“By my basic calculations that could be around 15 per cent of increase in massing and internal volume of the unit,” said the Conservative councillor.

“A bigger unit means more storage space, which means more lorry movements to fill that storage space.

“This is not a minor breach, this is a major impact.”

Cllr Geraldine Robinson, who covers Lutterworth West, stated: “I am amazed by the huge increase in the size proposed.

“As ward member I am greatly concerned about the impact this overbearing building will have on the Lutterworth new allotment site.

“Part of the allotment land falls away and has drainage issues.”

But despite their worries the scheme was overwhelmingly and quickly backed with only two councillors voting to block it.

Magna Park is a sprawling 500-acre distribution powerhouse bounded by the M1, M6 and M69 – in an area dubbed the Golden Triangle for its brilliant location in the centre of England.