Developers face planning hurdles

Thorpe Park, next to junction 46 of the M1 in east Leeds, has 600,000 sq ft of offices and planning consent for 1.2m sq ft more.

Scarborough Development Group has drawn up plans for the next phase, and managing director Mark Jackson said the proposals could create over 6,000 jobs.

At a pre-planning application presentation, he told the council’s east plans panel: “We need to create these amenities. We believe that will stimulate the demand for the office space on the site.”

Councillors are keen for work on the road to get underway. A report said while small scale shops might be acceptable depending on the detail, many of the proposed alternative uses were contrary to local and national planning policies relating to out of town shopping.

Coun Tom Leadley said: “You have got so far with the business park but now there is not much demand for more offices so now you have come for out-of-town retail. You are arguing a special case for your project but others would want to do the same.”