Leicester mid-box scheme secures ‘go ahead’

Logistics and industrial specialist Newlands Development has secured outline planning consent for a 850,000ft2 mid-box scheme in Leicestershire.

The scheme will be built on a 127-acre former sand and gravel site adjacent to the Aldi distribution centre in Sawley, close to Junction 24 of the M1 motorway.

Only 42 acres of the site is developable and will hold seven units from 20,000-150,000ft2. The buildings will be built to BREEAM ‘Very Good’. The development parcels would house the building units together with all service yards, HGV parking and staff parking, which would include disabled parking pays, motorcycle parking and bike shelters.

Newlands intends to start development as soon as possible. A statement to the council stated, “Should planning permission be granted, the applicant intends to start work on preparing applications in respect of the discharge of any pre-commencement conditions immediately, and is in negotiations with various occupiers and detailed negotiations with one, with these negotiations being predicated on a quick delivery.”

Newlands currently has land bank portfolio that has the ability to deliver in excess of 15 million ft2. It is currently promoting 10 sites across the UK with the capability of providing units from 10,000 to 1 million ft2.

Newlands Developments was founded in November 2018 by the former senior management team of Roxhill Developments. A year later, it agreed a partnership with South African investor Equites Property Fund to bank roll the cost of promoting land through the planning process, completing land acquisitions and implementing infrastructure works.