Business park expansion to create almost 700 new jobs

Plans have been submitted to expand a major Derbyshire business park, which could bring almost 700 new jobs.

Acting on behalf of Clowes Developments, Asteer Planning has lodged proposals with South Derbyshire District Council to add 380,000 sq ft of logistics space at Dove Valley Park, at Foston.

The applications seek full planning approval for the construction of four speculative units and a further unit to provide new facilities for OGM Holdings Ltd, specialists in plastic injection moulding.

If approved, it would result in around 690 on-site jobs being created, along with a further 140 off-site jobs.

Marc Freeman, director at Clowes Developments, said: “We are pleased to bring new development opportunities to Dove Valley Park.

“The scheme has been hugely successful over the years with world-renowned companies making Dove Valley Park a strategically located industrial and logistics hub for their businesses.”

Situated next to the A50, Dove Valley Park is already an established employment site in South Derbyshire.

The latest applications mark the ongoing development of the business park, which is already home to top name occupiers including JCB Power Systems, Futaba International, Tophat, Truma and Kuehne and Nagel.

According to Clowes, the scheme for OGM comprises two alternative proposals.

This will provide flexibility for OMG, which currently operates from four locations throughout the UK and have ambitious plans for further growth.

The proposed plot at Dove Valley Park is currently allocated as a roadside lorry park, but due to lack of demand it has never been developed.

Clowes said that the new plans will transform the site and create a more viable and beneficial development.

Alice Routledge, of Asteer Planning, said: “Our client has been careful to create plans which will provide modern, purpose-built, sustainable units for a variety of uses.

“With job creation and sustainability at the heart of the proposals, approval of this suite of applications will significantly increase the site’s attractiveness and further bolster Dove Valley Park’s growing reputation as a highly sought after industrial and logistics location.”