£35m Staffordshire development will 'end a way of life'
A major logistics company is set to build a £35 million headquarters in Essington - and has promised more jobs on the horizon.
DX Freight – formerly Nightfreight – wants to transform a 44-acre site in Hobnock Road into a distribution centre and offices.
The firm currently employs 120 people at each of its two sites in Willenhall - at Crestwood House in Birches Rise and another base in Ashmore Lake Way.
But bosses want to move all of the workers to the new Essington site, which would act as the main HQ for the business.
The delivery firm, which employs more than 5,000 people across the country, has applied for planning permission, saying its proposal for Hobnock Road would bring life back to a site that has not contributed to the local economy for 30 years.
The planning application states: "The proposed site for this development is identified by the planning authority as a sustainable location for future employment development.
"The site has not made a beneficial contribution to the social, economic or environmental setting of South Staffordshire in 30 years.
"In terms of harm to the green belt, the development will bring very special social, economic and environmental circumstances that will outweigh the harm."
Essington councillor David Clifft said there were both positives and negatives to the scheme.
"It does mean bringing jobs into the area but it will also end a way of life for many people," he said.
"The plans would see a major warehouse built on green belt land and I know people feel very strongly about that. I have had lots of contact from residents who are very upset at the prospect of having such a development in Essington."
One Hobnock Road resident, who did not want to be named, added: "Everyone is very concerned about these plans and we don't want permission to be granted.
"It would be the absolute death of a village. People wouldn't be able to sleep – there would be lorries and cars coming past at all hours on what is already a busy road.
"On top of that, there is all sorts of noise issues to think about. People feel very strongly that this is not the right thing to do."
