A former data centre in Leicestershire could be home to a 24/7 industrial estate with hundreds objecting to the plans – calling them "ludicrous".

North West Leicestershire District Council's (NWLDC) planning committee is set to meet on Tuesday, July 14, to discuss demolishing the rest of the former Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Data Centre in Kegworth and replacing it with a 13,000sq metre industrial estate.

NWLDC's planning officers have recommended that the development go ahead.

According to the plans seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the new building is planned to house 128 car parking spaces, 20 HGV parking spaces, 16 loading bays, and 60 cycle spaces, with the business planning to run on a 24/7-hour basis.

More than 200 people have objected to the plans, as well as Kegworth Parish Council.

Residents fear the new plans will cause traffic jams and tailback and the massive 14.5-metre height of the building will visually dominate, overshadow, and block light to adjacent back gardens and homes within a 50-metre radius.

Locals say they are also worried that, due to its 24/7 operation, it could lead to continuous light pollution and sleep-disrupting noise, particularly from heavy goods vehicles.

Mr Matthew Best, who lives on Pritchard Drive, said: "While this site has remained unused for many years without issue, the recent demolition works

have already created significant disruption, including excessive noise, pollution, and obstruction caused by plant machinery and construction vehicles parking at the entrance to Pritchard Drive.

"If this warehouse is approved, these issues will not only continue but will worsen considerably, bringing long-term harm to the area."

Mr Andrew Smith, who lives on Ashby Road in the village, said: "A distribution warehouse at this location will have a severe impact on traffic at the

junction of Packington Hill and Derby Road.

"There will be an increase in HGV vehicles, roads in and around Kegworth have a restriction limit, and there will be a risk of HGV vehicles commuting through the village centre rather than using the bypass. This will also cause an increase of sound, pollution and risk to residents, pedestrians and children.

"What an absolutely ludicrous place to put such a thing – right next to a residential area and in the village perimeter. No common sense planning at all."

Despite this, the applicant, Hobden Estates (Kegworth) Limited, has said that the new development will create 100 new jobs.

It also said the development will "safeguard landscape and townscape character" as well as "not give rise to adverse impacts on highway safety or existing infrastructure".

NWLDC's planning committee will meet on July 14 to decide whether or not to permit or refuse the plan.