Global logistics company DHL has offered Ashby area residents the chance to have their say about its planned 10-acre site in Corkscrew Lane.

A planning application for the development has been with North West Leicestershire District Council for over two years, but permission to build has yet to be granted.

The application was made by specialist land development and property consultancy Mather Jamie, with a view to DHL occupying the site.

Correspondence with the District Council reveals that the landowner entered into an agreement with DHL in February last year.

This provides for DHL to purchase the land should the pending planning application be successful.

Now, DHL has put together a survey asking local people for their views on the proposed site.

The company says that it will provide 400 jobs in the area.

DHL provides parcel delivery, express shipping, freight transport, and supply chain management services - and connects over 220 countries with regular flights to and from East Midlands Airport.

The planned development is expected to cover around 10 acres of land off the A511 and close to the A42.

However, the area is also home to the new G-Park warehouse site, which was given planning permission in 2021, but has yet to be completed.

The G-Park site is also at Corkscrew Lane. Photo: Ashby Nub News

The DHL website says: "The proposed jobs will cater to a range of skill levels, and will include roles such as software engineers, warehouse operatives, managers, HGV drivers and support for apprentices.

"Have your say on our plans for new jobs near Ashby de la Zouch by completing our short survey."

It adds: "Our plans will help to meet the needs of a modern economy and will create around 400 jobs for the local area. These jobs will be split across various different skill sets, including:

• Warehouse operatives; This includes operators, team leaders and software/mechanical engineers.
• Office workers; This will account for approximately a quarter of onsite jobs.
• Managerial roles; This includes team leaders and department heads.
• Class 1 and 2 drivers; This includes operators qualified to drive heavy goods vehicles.

"As well as investment in jobs, apprenticeships and the economic benefits to the local supply chain, the proposals would also provide more than £2,600,000 in business rate receipts that can help to support essential services such as social care and education.

"In addition to providing new job opportunities, the site will be net zero carbon in construction and certified BREEAM Excellent in design.

"This means the buildings will rank in the top 10 per cent of new non-domestic buildings in terms of environmental performance. 

"Our plans also include a minimum of 25 per cent rooftop solar panel coverage, planting new trees and delivering environmental enhancements to improve biodiversity."

In a letter to the District Council last October, DHL said: "We have an immediate requirement for a new building to deliver additional capacity for a new customer who wishes to locate in North West Leicestershire

"The adopted development plan policy test for new employment development requires that if an immediate need cannot be met on allocated sites, it will be considered "favourably" by the Council.

"DHL has a strong history of investment in North West Leicestershire and wishes to continue this through the delivery of a new state-of-the-art unit at Corkscrew Lane, and would hope this is favourably received. 

"To ensure no alternative sites were appropriate and available, DHL instructed Quod to undertake an Alternative Sites Assessment (ASA) to review the availability of other employment sites in North West Leicestershire. The ASA concludes no other site can be accommodated."