Issue - meetings

Outline application (all matters reserved) for extension of MIRA Technology Park to comprise employment use (class B2), associated office and service uses (class E g), storage (class B8), new spine road, car parking, landscaping and enabling works (cross boundary application with North Warwickshire Borough Council).

Late items received after publication of agenda:

Following consideration of the item at the Planning Committee of 17 June 2025, the item was deferred to allow for a site visit to take place. A site visit took place this morning, 15 July 2025, to view the junctions of the A5 with Drayton Lane and Woodford Lane, Fenny Drayton.

Further, the item was deferred following comments made with regards to National Highways reviewing information submitted by the objector, Extra Room Self Storage (ERSS). ERSS submitted additional information to National Highways on 19 June 2025, including data underpinning their transport modelling, and an independent audit of their modelling undertaken.

National Highways

National Highways have subsequently confirmed that, as further information has been submitted by a 3^rd party, not by the applicant, National Highways will not review this information. National Highways confirmed to the Council on 20 June 2025 that:

‘...Nationals Highways is unable to consider any further the ‘Updated Review of A5 Mitigation Report’ and the subsequent information supplied by DTA consultants in support of the report, given that this information does not form part of the proposals put forward by the applicant.

Therefore, our position on the proposals remains as stated in the formal conditioned response issued by Russell Gray on 22 November 2024’.

This confirmation was provided by National Highways to ERSS on 3 July 2025.

Information provided by the applicant:

The applicant has provided a summary of the history of the application with regards to proposed works to Drayton Lane and Woodford Lane junctions with the A5. This can be summarised as below:

·         August 2022 – application submitted showing traffic lights to both Drayton Lane and Woodford Lane junctions

·         June 2023 – junctions reassessed following completion of PRTM traffic modelling. Traffic lights at both junctions considered to result in queuing to the A5 and objection from Witherley PC due to potential for increase in rat running through Fenny Drayton

·         October 2023 – left in, left out mitigation proposed to both Drayton Lane and Woodford Lane junctions

·         December 2023 – proposal for junctions to remain unchanged and finacial contribution to National Highways for a feasibility assessment for safety enhancement scheme. Application considered and approved by North Warwickshire Borough Council (NWBC) subject to final approval from highway consultees. Meeting with Police in June 2024 included police concerns over enforcement of a 40mph limit to the A5 and discussions regarding speed cameras. National Highways confirmed average speed camera scheme not supported

·         October 2024 – current proposal for traffic lights at Woodford Lane and left in, left out at Drayton Lane. Design review undertaken and verbal confirmation provided by National Highways, Leicestershire County Council and Warwickshire County Council that proposal would be acceptable and road  ...  view the full agenda text for item 111

Outline application (all matters reserved) for extension of MIRA Technology Park to comprise employment use (class B2), associated office and service uses (class E g), storage (class B8), new spine road, car parking, landscaping and enabling works (cross boundary application with North Warwickshire Borough Council).

The ward councillor spoke on this application.

It was moved by Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor R Allen and unanimously

RESOLVED –

(i)            Permission be granted subject to

a.    The conditions outlined in the officer’s report;

b.    A S106 agreement to secure off site highways improvements including bus service improvements and with regards to employment and skills training.

(ii)          The Head of Planning be granted delegated authority to determine the final detail of the planning conditions.

Outline application (all matters reserved) for extension of MIRA Technology Park to comprise employment use (class B2); associated office and service uses (class E g); storage (class B8); new spine road; car parking; landscaping and enabling works (cross boundary application with North Warwickshire Borough Council).

Late items received after preparation of main agenda:

Following publication of the Planning Committee report ahead of the meeting of 22 April, the item was withdrawn from the Planning Committee agenda. This was because the Council was sent a copy of a pre-action protocol letter ahead of a potential judicial review from a solicitor acting on behalf of an objector (Extra Room Self Storage (ERSS)) to North Warwickshire Borough Council (NWBC).

This letter received by North Warwickshire Borough Council seeks to challenge the decision taken by NWBC to approve the application at their February Planning Committee meeting, subject to completion of a S106 agreement. This letter suggests the following to NWBC:

·         That it failed to take into account the necessity of the proposed Drayton Lane works to amend this junction to be ‘left in, left out’ only and whether the potential restrictions on the objectors business were unreasonable when taking into account para 200 of the NPPF;

·         That it failed to take into account the view of statutory consultees in assessing alternative options for the Drayton Lane junction proposed by the objector; and

·         It acted irrationally and misled Members in deciding not to seek statutory consultee review of alternative options proposed by the objector

Following receipt of this letter, the item was withdrawn from the HBBC Planning Committee of 22 April and NWBC have considered the letter, assessed the legal implications and have then taken the matter back to their Planning Committee on 9 June for consideration, given that the decision notice had not been issued.

At its meeting of 9 June, NWBC resolved to grant permission subject to a S106 agreement.

In consideration of the item at their meeting on 9 June, NWBC Officers confirmed that, in their view, the proposed works to Drayton Lane / A5 junction would not be unreasonable restrictions and that they will not inhibit the ERSS business through being unduly onerous.

With regards to alternative proposals for the junction being provided by the objector and any statutory consultee review of these alternative proposals, these proposals are not submitted by the applicant and do not form part of the application to be determined. There is no requirement for alternative proposals submitted by 3^rd parties, in this case an objector, to be assessed by statutory consultees, in this case including National Highways and two Local Highway Authorities. The statutory consultees have been engaged in this application since its submission in 2022 and are satisfied that the proposals put forward by the applicant as part of the application are satisfactory.

The applicant has submitted a final proposal for all off site highway works, and this has been accepted by the relevant statutory consultees as being acceptable in highway terms. Planning Committee  ...  view the full agenda text for item 41

Outline application (all matters reserved) for extension of MIRA Technology Park to comprise employment use (Class B2), associated office and service uses (Class E g); storage (class B8), new spine road, car parking, landscaping and enabling works (cross boundary application with North Warwickshire Borough Council).

An objector, the applicant and the ward councillor spoke on this application.

Whilst in support of the wider development, concern was expressed about the highway works which were the only aspect of the application within the boundary of Hinckley & Bosworth Borough. It was moved by Councillor Bray and seconded by Councillor C Gibbens that the application be deferred for a site visit. During discussion upon the motion, it was suggested that further discussions could take place in relation to potential alternative highway solutions. Upon being put to the vote, the motion was CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED – the application be deferred for a site visit.

Outline application (all matters reserved) for extension of MIRA Technology Park to comprise employment use (class B2), associated office and service uses (class E g), storage (class B8), new spine road, car parking, landscaping and enabling works (cross boundary application with North Warwickshire Borough Council).

This item has been withdrawn from the agenda.

It was reported that this item had been withdrawn from the agenda.