Outline planning application by Lindum Group to extend a Overfield Business Park by 450,000 sq ft near Newark Showground face objections from Newark Town Council

Plans to extend a business park have been knocked back after a council objected to the proposals.

Newark Town Council's planning committee met this week to discuss an outline planning application by Lindum Group which seeks permission to create an additional 450,000 sq ft floorspace of employment land at Overfield Park, to the South Newark Showground.

An outline approach will allow for the principles of development to be established, before final detailed proposals are set out in the future — should the application be granted consent by Newark and Sherwood District Council's planning authority.

The plans would see Lindum buy 12 acres of land to be included in the development from Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society, which they say would provide an economic boost for the Showground and expand the current Overfield Park development to provide future employment opportunities in the area.

During discussion by town councillors, concerns were raised over the loss of biodiversity in the area if the plans were to be approved.

Susan Crosby said that she would object on the grounds that 89 tree would be removed from the proposed building area and it was put forward to make a suggestion to the developers that some green space would be retained.

Positives were also recognised with Mathew Skinner, saying: "I am fully supportive of this application as a ridiculous number of housing has been built in Newark and all of those people are going to need jobs.

"I know it's not ideal but that's down to the people that choose to work there, choose to build there and choose to employ people there."

The area between Winthorpe and Coddington is already home to several large and well established businesses and land is allocated as industrial, something councillors raised during discussion.

Neil Ross said: "The problem we face is, if it's not here where are we going to put it?"

Newark Town Council’s planning committee voted to object to the plans, with three abstentions.

The final say on whether or not outline planning permission is granted will be decided by Newark and Sherwood District Council.