Bennerley Employment Park Investigation

On the plateau east of Bennerley Viaduct, where open ground falls toward the River Erewash, one of the most significant planning applications in recent local history is now under consideration. Harworth Group has submitted proposals for up to 130,000 square metres of employment development alongside a 24-hectare country park. The scheme is classified as major development, subject to Environmental Impact Assessment, and formally described as a departure from the Local Plan. The documentation runs to more than 100 reports, plans and technical studies. Together they examine landscape and visual impact, ecology, heritage, transport, air quality, noise, flood risk, ground conditions and economic benefit. At its heart, the application presents a balance: projected economic growth and job creation set against acknowledged landscape change and increased traffic along the A610 corridor. The Environmental Statement itself recognises significant visual effects in certain locations, while the Economic Benefits Statement projects 1,726 net additional jobs and £183 million in annual economic output. This page brings together Ilkeston News’ full coverage of the Bennerley proposals. Each part of the series examines a different aspect of the scheme - from what is being proposed, to the economic case, environmental trade-offs, transport modelling and the decision now facing councillors. We have read the documents so you don’t have to.