DHL has received planning approval to build a major logistics warehouse near Towcester after the UK government overturned a local council’s refusal. The decision follows a nine-day public inquiry led by the Planning Inspectorate.
The project includes an 18.5-metre-high facility spanning roughly 265,000 sq ft. The site will be accessed via a newly constructed roundabout on the A5, with improvements also planned for the nearby A5/A43 Tove Roundabout.
Initially rejected by West Northamptonshire Council due to concerns about visual impact and increased traffic, the development faced over 1,100 public objections. Despite this, the inspector ruled that the economic and employment benefits outweighed the negative effects.
The approval also grants outline planning permission for three additional employment zones on the site, with land allocated for Towcester Town Football Club pitches. DHL has previously projected the development’s first phase will create around 1,300 full-time jobs.
The move signals continued expansion in the logistics sector, despite growing resistance from communities concerned about large-scale warehousing developments.
