Plans for a large new manufacturing facility at New Stanton Park are due to be decided by councillors at next week’s Planning Committee — but significant concerns remain about the scale and impact of the proposal.
The application, submitted by Fassa Bortolo, seeks permission for a render product manufacturing plant on land off Lows Lane, near Ilkeston, as part of the redevelopment of the former Stanton Ironworks site. The scheme includes substantial industrial buildings, storage and milling facilities, office space and parking — but most notably a mixing tower rising to almost 200 feet high.
The scale and height of the proposed structures have prompted strong local opposition. More than 30 public objections have been submitted, raising concerns about visual impact, industrial overdevelopment and the effect on surrounding communities. Stanton-by-Dale Parish Council has also formally objected to the plans.
A key area of concern is traffic. Planning documents confirm that materials and finished products would be transported entirely by road, with no rail freight provision included in the application. Residents are particularly worried about the additional heavy goods vehicle movements this would generate. Sandiacre already experiences significant disruption from HGV traffic, and many fear this proposal would add to congestion, noise and air pollution on already stretched local roads.
Concerns have also been raised about noise, dust and the cumulative impact of further industrial expansion in close proximity to residential areas.
Cllr Wayne Major has made clear he will attend the Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday 11 February to address members directly. He intends to urge councillors to consider carefully whether approving the application — without meaningful mitigation measures or wider infrastructure improvements (including Junction 25a for the M1) — would make an already difficult situation worse for local residents.
For Cllr Major and many residents, the central issue is not opposition to jobs or investment, but the risk of approving a development of this scale without the necessary road infrastructure in place to support it.
