Thumbs up for £80m Pall-Ex HQ
Having signed a 408,000 sq ft pre-let with developer Barberry earlier this year, the firm now has the green light to proceed with the Leicestershire project.
Hickley & Bosworth Council’s planning committee gave the proposals the nod on 7 September, at a session that also considered various weighty residential schemes.
In May, Barberry and Pall-Ex announced the deal for a new headquarters and distribution hub at Wiggs Farm in Bardon, at that point the largest pre-let in the UK this year.
Billed as a centre of excellence, the project encompasses a 408,000 sq ft building, with an additional 100,000 sq ft canopy, on a 35-acre site, aiming for EPC A+ and BREEAM Excellent accreditation. The site is close to Pall-Ex’s existing HQ, which it has outgrown.
The professional team for ‘Project Excellence’ includes planner Harris Lamb, architect BHB, landscape architect Blade, Tier, Envance, and transport consultant DTA.
Around 140 objections were made, including one from North West Leicestershire District Council and three from parish councils. Among the points raised were that other sites should be considered prior to this, and that the impact on local roads would be too great.
Officers had recommended approval, judging that the benefits outweigh potential harm. Around £640,000 in highway improvement contributions are suggested for the Section 106 deal.
Scheme documents can be found on H&BC’s planning portal, with the reference 25/00523/FUL.
