A major Leicestershire haulage company has announced plans for an £80-million "eco-friendly" new headquarters and freight hub just down the road from its current home. Pall-Ex says it has outgrown its existing building in Ellistown, near Coalville, and wants to build a “cutting-edge, state-of-the-art freight distribution hub” on nearby fields.

A planning application for the scheme has been lodged with Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council (HBBC) by Barberry, an industrial developer, which will build the 408,000 sq ft building – dubbed the “Centre of Excellence” in plans – if the application is approved. Pall-Ex is currently based on Victoria Road, with the proposed site just a few hundred metres away on fields off Wood Road, between Ellistown, Bagworth and Nailstone.

Planning documents say the 35-acre plot “has been agricultural land for over 100 years with no building on site”. An access road to the site will lead from a new junction on Station Road. In the planning application, Barberry calls Pall-Ex “a large local player [that has] outgrown their existing location”, adding that the company wants to stay in the local area. ”The site has been chosen to remain close to the existing facility and retain the good access to the strategic road network,” the documents explain.

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Prior to submitting the application, Barberry commissioned a public consultation to gather the views of local residents, which resulted in “a limited number of respondents who raised negative comments”. Highway safety issues were said to be “the overriding issue”, but people also raised concerns over noise, air and light pollution.

The company said it has assessed traffic levels and the potential impact the plans would have on road safety “to ensure no significant adverse traffic effects will be caused by the proposed development”. Planning documents add: “In addition, the impact of the proposal on noise, light and air quality has been undertaken to ensure the proposal mitigates where appropriate against any adverse impacts.”

A computer graphic shows a large industrial building with a car park in the bottom of the picture and numerous lorries parked around the edges of the building. There are green fields in the background.
An artist's impression of the proposed new headquarters.

Pall-Ex and Barberry have promised a host of "energy efficient and eco-friendly features” for the building, including electric vehicle charging stations, green spaces and solar panels. The companies claim the centre will be “the first purpose-built facility in the pallet network sector to be energy self-sufficient”.

The building will feature a “staff welfare recreation zone”, with football pitch, basketball court and club house. Barberry hopes to begin building the development later this year if planning consent is granted.

Kevin Buchanan, Pall-Ex group chief executive officer, said the announcement of the new headquarters “isn’t just about expansion and growth”. He said: "It’s about redefining the industry through technology, quality, and state-of-the-art infrastructure. As a market leader, we are immensely proud to unveil plans for premises that will be A+ rated, carbon-neutral, and built for the future.”

Jonathan Robinson, Barberry development director, said: “We are thrilled to announce that we have secured a pre-let agreement with Pall-Ex to deliver the company’s new national Centre of Excellence in Leicestershire.” Mr Robinson revealed Barberry had agreed a long-term lease with Pall-Ex.

Planning documents can be viewed on HBBC's portal, but no deadline for comments and objections has been revealed.

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