Business park expansion rejected to avoid harming Derbyshire green belt

The project, submitted by Garner Holdings, would have created nearly 700 new jobs on the Denby Hall Business Park and safeguarded another 100 roles.

Amber Valley Borough Council’s planning committee unanimously refused the plans last night (Monday, September 28) against the recommendations of the authority’s officers.

Three new colossal buildings, covering nearly 60,000 square metres in floor space, would have been built but councillors did not want to see any construction on protected green belt land which was formerly part of a colliery.

The expansion would have included a new 32,021 square metre production facility for Garner Aluminium Extrusions Limited, a 20,009 square metre warehouse for HL Plastics Limited and a 7,293 square metre production facility for LB Plastics Limited.

Council planning officers said the creation of jobs and the economic benefit to the borough met the “very special circumstances” required to build on green belt land.

Martin Thurley, group managing director at HL Plastics, said the firm has already bounced back post-lockdown, is already 25 per cent up year on year and that the expansion was “critical” for the company’s long-term aims.

Neil Harris, on behalf of applicants, said the site is a “flagship, prestigious employment site for Amber Valley”.

He said: “This application goes to the heart of what Britain needs, driving innovation and productivity, there are clearly special circumstances here.”

Jonathan Jenkin, also on behalf of the applicants, said the development would “strengthen the economic base of the borough” and be powered by green technology.

He said “the minimum amount of green belt land will be used,” that materials would be locally sourced and that the proposed firms sharing one site will reduce carbon emissions.

Cllr Ben Bellamy, deputy leader of the authority, said: “I don’t believe the very special circumstances exist here. I think it is just an inconvenience for the applicants that they have had homes plans approved at a site in Heage.”

Plans for 160 homes were approved on the site of the Firs Work site in Nether Heage in June, which had housed HL Plastics and a new sister company of Garner Holdings, Garnalex, would makes metal products.

Cllr Bellamy said economic reasons could not be used in favour of building on the green belt.

He said the applicants were taking the “easiest most economically beneficial and convenient choice for themselves”.

Cllr Bellamy said: “This authority is pro-business and we recognise the contribution the businesses have made to the borough. But we must not sacrifice the green belt.”

Cllr Faye Atkinson said the application should be refused due to “”harm to the green belt from this inappropriate development” and that the “benefits do not outweigh the harm”.

Cllr Ron Ashton said: “Heavy traffic is already travelling through Marehay and Ripley and more traffic would not be acceptable unless there are restrictions put in place.”

Cllr Dave Wells said: “It comes down to a decision between green belt protection and jobs.

“It is very obvious that covering 16 hectares in concrete is not good for climate change.”

Garner Holdings says the expansion would safeguard 100 jobs at HL Plastics, LB Plastics and Garnalex, which are in need of new and larger premises.

The new buildings, it says, would create a further 680 new jobs by 2025.

Before the meeting, with council officers having recommended approval, Roger Hartshorn, director of Garner Holdings, had said: “This is really positive news for employment prospects in these difficult uncertain times, where most employment stories are of closure and redundancy.”

In total, 63 objection letters were submitted by residents, due to the site’s location in the green belt and the near doubling of the existing business park.