M1 mega-warehouse plan in Northampton promising thousands of jobs blasted by locals as 'ruining the countryside'

Planning papers submitted to West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) by The Harworth Group say the scheme would be built on farmland just south of Junction 15 of the motorway.

The site sits between the A508 Northampton Road and Washbrook Lane, close to Grange Park and the existing SEGRO Gateway development.

According to plans, the proposal is for a large employment site with warehouses, industrial units and some office space, along with a small café for workers.

The plans allow for up to 149,000 square metres of floorspace, which could create 2,000 full-time roles once complete, according to the applicant.

The applicant said: “It is evident that in the Northampton area there is a specific shortage of larger sites to meet the needs of existing companies who wish to grow, and also to meet the requirements of companies who wish to move into the area.

"Further allocation for the strategic provision of employment land is therefore made within the plan to support the aims of growing, regenerating and diversifying the Northampton economy by ensuring a flexible supply of the right type and scale of sites remains available.”

They added: “The site immediately adjoins Junction 15 of the M1 motorway, which facilitates robust regional and national interconnectivity.”

Multiple parish councils in the area have objected to the plans, raising concerns about traffic, overdevelopment and the impact on rural communities.

Ward councillor Fiona Cole has also formally objected.

Councillor Cole warned this would “place an intolerable strain on the J15 infrastructure, which already creates and experiences unacceptable levels of traffic”.

She also raised concerns about a “lack of business need and justification”, pointing to empty units at nearby sites including Brackmills, Swan Valley and Junction 16.

On roads, she said the scheme would bring a “significant increase in vehicle movements” on routes that are “already operating under severe strain and pressure”.

Cllr Cole added that the plans would harm the “rural nature and character of the area” due to the “steady and continual encroachment of large-scale infrastructure”.

She also questioned the type of jobs being created, saying warehousing is “already over developed for need in the area” and often provides “low-wage, low-skill” work.

She said there is “no evidence that the proposals address the real employment needs of our rural communities”.

One resident objected, saying: “What has already been built has caused a lot of noise during construction. Do these companies ever consider that people nearby decided to live here as we want countryside?

"Lorries, despite promises that traffic would not come through the village, do!

"As a mum doing the school run twice a day, I can promise that there are absolutely huge lorries coming through Blisworth, mounting kerbs, often speeding.

"It's like the planning goes in, the warehouses go up and hands are wiped of all consequences, except for the people living in the areas affected. It feels like complete money-making greed.

"When will it stop? When will it be enough? No investment into local communities – a complete disregard for residents. Soon we won't be living in the countryside but will be in the middle of an industrial estate.”

Residents have until May 2 to submit their comments on the proposal.