Representation by Matthew Copley
- Date submitted
- 21 June 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
The proposed development covers a huge area and promises to dwarf surrounding villages which will suffer hugely as a result; owing to a decline in local amenity of nearby green spaces (Burbage common for example) and the rural landscape which will be less attractive, more noisy and more polluted as a result. Owing to the size and nature of the development it promises to decimate a range of valuable habitats and wildlife. It will also negatively impact wildlife in the adjoining rural landscape for many years to come. It promises a significant and long term increase in road traffic, and a corresponding increase in air, noise and light pollution affecting a much wider surrounding area. This will negatively impact the health and well-being of large numbers of local residents for many years to come. Leicestershire is striving to become net zero, and is working to reverse the decline in biodiversity in what is already one of the least bio diverse, least wooded areas of the UK. This proposed development is directly counter to both of these aims. The area around the proposed development is already disproportionately affected by a convergence of major road networks, and a large number of warehouse facilities, many of which are under utilised. As such, the proposed development does not guarantee any benefits to local people or the local economy. Any local jobs created post construction promise to be poorly paid, and by their nature at high risk of being replaced by automation. Higher paid jobs will likely be given to remote workers in other parts of the UK or to people who travel into the proposed development area to work for short periods. Those who stand to gain most from the proposed development do not live locally, and will not be impacted negatively by the proposed development, and in balance promises to make the local area demonstrably worse.