DX Freight launches appeal after Essington super-hub plan is thrown out
DX Freight has launched a last ditch bid to resurrect controversial plans for a 44-acre super-hub by appealing against refusal, taking the proposal to the Government.
South Staffordshire Council threw out the firm's original application for a £36 million development in Essington in May on the back of hundreds of objections.
The centre would have seen 600 staff transferred from the company's two sites in Willenhall.
Now, despite the fact parent firm DX Group has unveiled new plans for a smaller hub, bosses have lodged an appeal against the original refusal decision re-igniting their battle with locals who have waged a two-year campaign against the company.
It means the final decision will likely be made by a planning inspectorate from the Department for Communities and Local Government who could rule in favour of the scheme.
South Staffordshire Councillor David Clifft, who represents Essington, said: "We expected it (the appeal) was going to come but I am not concerned.
"I welcome it. Our arguments against it at the time were ironclad.
"I look forward to putting the arguments forward again to the planning inspector and am confident the appeal will be dismissed."
Mr Clifft explained that the council had agreed for 11 acres of the site at Hobnock Road to be developed but argued 44 acres was too excessive for the village, while DX Freight's latest scheme would still see around 30 acres built on.
As well as the impact on the green belt land residents' major fears centre around traffic from heavy goods vehicles descending on Essington.
DX declared it would safeguard the current jobs in Willenhall while creating another 400.
On September 8 the company, alongside partner Stoford, held a public exhibition unveiling the revised scheme.
The firm argued the 'built form' would be 32 per cent smaller while lorries would travel directly to junction 11 of the M6, but placard-waving protestors still turned out to demonstrate their opposition to it.
In light of the appeal DX Freight confirmed its intention to press ahead with the scaled-down plans stating bosses would submit formal plans by Christmas.
Spokesman James Anderson said: "Taking account of feedback on the refused application, the revised proposals were for a single distribution centre building and included a proposed 12.5 acre community meadow accessed off Hobnock Road. DX also proposed tough guarantees on HGV routing and operations.
"DX and Stoford are currently reviewing the feedback from the exhibition and are seeking to submit a new planning application for the site before Christmas."
