Plans for The Range to open logistics centre at Suffolk business park approved
It's hoped the site, at Gateway 14, will create 1,650 jobs
A plot for The Range in Stowmarket’s Gateway 14 has been given the go ahead.
Details for the development of a warehouse, office, and associated space on an 108,900 square metre-plot were approved in an unanimous vote by a Mid Suffolk Council committee today.
The Range secured the plot in June and today’s approval of reserved matters is an important step towards construction.
It is expected construction will begin next January, and The Range will eventually generate approximately 1,650 jobs here.
The huge Gateway 14 business park is planned for Stowmarket and the plot considered today will sit in the south-west of the overall site, bordered on the north by the A14 and the west by the A1120.
Creeting St Peter Parish Council objected to the application approved today, citing problems including traffic generation, lack of landscape details, noise problems and uncertainty over whether enough parking spaces are included in the plans.
The main issue around traffic generation concerns the bends on Mill Lane, which is connected to the A1120 and crosses the business park.
Officers expect most traffic will enter the site via the A1120 rather than Mill Lane, and road signs will be installed to encourage this. The Highways Authority are satisfied these measures are sufficient.
The report explains that about 22 per cent of the plot is expected to be soft landscaping – areas of plants such as grass and trees. This will include an outdoor area for staff.
A noise bund around the nearby Clamp Farm Barns is also included in the application to prevent disturbance here.
Plans for the plot include over 1,600 parking spaces, including for cars, lorries, bikes and motorbikes.
The site will also have a refuse and recycling unit; 160 electric vehicle (EV) charging points, and 160 spaces where further EV charging points can be added later.
Stowmarket Town Council, Stowupland Parish and Badley Parish councils did not comment on the application.
Planning permission for Gateway 14 was granted last August, and construction work began in April.
The business park, which has permission for 2.36 million square-foot of floor space, will be part of Freeport East, a set of low-tax, low-regulation zones given the green light in December 2021.