Coventry Business Park Approved Despite Local Concerns

• Apr 25, 2025

Plans for a new 55-acre business park near the M6 in Coventry have been approved, despite opposition from local residents concerned about overdevelopment and its impact on the area.

The project, to be developed by logistics firm Panattoni, will be located on former green belt land between the A444 Pickards Way and Wilsons Lane. The site will include three large industrial units and associated parking, and is expected to generate approximately 1,000 jobs.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council unanimously approved the proposal. However, a petition signed by 90 residents raised objections regarding the scale, layout, and sustainability of the development.

At the planning committee hearing, one resident expressed frustration, stating: “We’re not NIMBYs in Longford. We just want answers and proper safeguards.” He also questioned whether conditions could be placed to prevent roads from being constructed only after buildings are erected.

Longford Labour councillor and petition sponsor Linda Bigham highlighted community concerns about a possible change to the site’s access point, which appeared in one of the planning documents. A council planning officer acknowledged the error, confirming that it would be corrected before final approval. The officer also stated that the project aligned with the development’s previously agreed parameters and did not constitute overdevelopment.

Bigham further pressed for assurances on noise, light pollution, and protections for residents during construction.

In response, a representative from Panattoni said the buildings would be “significantly lower” than the maximum permitted height and had been positioned further away from nearby homes. He added that proper drainage systems were in place and that landscaping would be introduced to shield the site from residential areas.

Panattoni also emphasized that the company had consulted with locals and councillors, incorporating feedback into the final design.