Details approved for industrial development in Grantham that represents £100 million investment into the area, with up to 1,715 jobs to be created

Details of an industrial development in Grantham that could create over 1,700 jobs were approved by a planning committee.

South Kesteven District Council's planning committee voted yesterday (Wednesday) to approve reserved matters relating to the layout, scale, appearance and landscaping of three planned industrial units on land at Spittlegate Level.

Outline permission to develop the 26-hectare site was granted in January 2022, with the land currently used for agriculture.

The application site forms part of the wider Grantham Southern Gateway Strategy Employment Opportunity, with up to 1,715 full-time equivalent jobs set to be created.

One local resident spoke at the meeting to raise concerns over the traffic impacts of the development, but, as details of access and traffic were approved in the outline application, those issues could not be discussed.

Two of the planned units will be around 18 metres in height, with the third set to be 21.8 metres tall.

Paul Brailsford, of Freeths Solicitors, spoke on behalf of the applicant, Amatrix Grantham Propco Limited, who acquired the site earlier this year.

Mr Brailsford explaining that the development “represents over five years of hard work” to deliver an exciting opportunity for Grantham, adding that it represents a £100 million investment into the local area.

He said that Amatrix is a Brookfield company with “significant experience in employment development” and that “their interest in this site reinforces the importance of Grantham”.

Councillor Mark Whittington (Con, Barrowby Gate) asked if the developer had had any interest from companies wishing to move to the development.

Mr Brailsford responded, saying that "interest in this location has been significant”, and that discussions were ongoing, but no formal names could be confirmed at this stage.

Councillors added a condition for additional trees on the southern edge of the site.

Councillor Charmaine Morgan (Ind, St Vincent’s) said: “Although we are losing a lot of land for the buildings themselves, it's actually very encouraging to see so much landscaping on this development.”