North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) has won an appeal against its decision not to grant planning permission for a lorry park on the site of the former Stardust nightclub on Beveridge Lane, Coalville.
Two appeals were brought about by Mr Brett Parker, Director of Bardon Truck Park Ltd, in January.
Appeal A related to an enforcement notice issued by NWLDC last March after a breach of planning permission which allowed for temporary parking of heavy goods vehicles on the site, with the land to then be vacated and returned to its former condition after 36 months.
Use of the land for lorry parking did not stop on 9 June 2023 and the site was not returned to its former condition in accordance with the conditions of the permission, leaving the council with no option but to issue the enforcement notice.
Appeal B related to the council’s refusal to grant further planning permission to Mr Parker for the parking of heavy goods vehicles on the site.
The decision by the Planning Inspectorate to dismiss both appeals following a public inquiry means that all use of the site for HGV parking must stop within four weeks.
Councillor Tony Saffell, portfolio holder for planning at NWLDC, said: “I’m very pleased that the Planning Inspectorate has upheld the council’s position. The fact is that the truck park, accessed by HGVs via the same narrow entrance as the Charnwood Arms car park, was a danger to pedestrians and to traffic crossing the nearby junction.
“We also know that there have been many occasions where HGV drivers leaving the site have made illegal right turns on to Beveridge Lane, dangerously crossing the eastbound carriageways. As the Planning Inspectorate concluded, it was only a matter of time before this led to a potentially fatal incident.
“I’m glad that the risk caused by HGV parking at the site will no longer be an issue. I’d like to thank everyone involved for their hard work throughout this process.”
