DX Freight unveils scaled-down centre for Staffordshire village

DX Group intends to have its £36 million new centre open by next summer on 44 acres in Hobnock Road, Essington.

The former Nightfreight business aims to transfer staff from its two existing sites in Willenhall, but has faced fierce opposition from local people.

A revised planning application has now been submitted to South Staffordshire Council, but local councillor David Clifft has said the proposals 'still don't go far enough to address the negative impact the development would have upon the community if it was allowed to go ahead'.

The latest plans have seen the total area of the site reduced by 29,063sq ft (2,700sqm) compared to the previous plans.

Planning documents submitted with the application state that following concerns from residents during a public exhibition in September 2015, the applicant has revised the overall design of the proposed head office and distribution centre.

The application covers the proposed new distribution centre and head office facility, the erection of a warehousing and distribution building, head office building, associated ancillary workshop and gate house buildings.

It also includes the creation of new accesses, car and lorry parking facilities, as well as associated landscaping, fencing, engineering and ground stability works.

Villagers have fiercely opposed the idea. South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson held a referendum over the plans, where 872 households responded, which equates to 43 per cent of households in the area.

Of those responses, 99 per cent agreed with the MP that the plans should not be given the go ahead. Residents have protested against the scheme and highlighted traffic congestion and highway safety are among their concerns.

On the new plans, Councillor David Clifft, chairman of Essington Parish Council and member of South Staffordshire Council said: "The warehouse and distribution floor area has been reduced by 1,530sqm; office building by 827sqm; and the ancillary buildings by 409sqm.

The residents of Essington feel that the amended application still doesn't go far enough to address the negative impact the development would have upon the community if it was allowed to go ahead."

A design and access statement document adds: "If the scheme is approved, the creation of an appropriate planning liaison group, as recommended by the majority of respondents, will allow local people to positively and constructively contribute to the future management of the site."

Earlier this month the company said it hopes to have the new hub up and running by next year.

In its latest half-year report the company said: "Plans have progressed well since signing the conditional purchase agreement in May 2015 and we have recently submitted a revised planning application."

It has also sealed a deal with an unnamed development partner for the funding and construction of the new hub, which will see DX Group lease the site for 25 years.

The report added that the firm expects the new site to open in late summer/autumn 2017 and that there will then be a phased relocation of existing hub operations with a view to the project being fully complete and operational within the next 24 months.

In September, around 500 residents packed into a fiery four-hour meeting over the issue, saying the plans 'could kill the village'.

As well as concerns over traffic and noise, residents have also raised fears over the safety of pupils at nearby St John's Primary School. However, DX have said the plans will bring new life to an area unused that has not been used for decades.

No one from DX Freight was available for comment.