The development of a 1.5m sq ft technology park in Hinckley, near Nuneaton in Warwickshire, took a step forward this week after secretary of state Eric Pickles chose not to call the scheme in.
Hinckley & Bosworth and North Warwickshire borough council will now determine whether to grant detailed consent for the £300m MIRA project.
Work is due to start on site by the end of the year.
The park is situated on 850 acres occupied by vehicle engineering company MIRA and is within the newly created enterprise zone on Leicestershire and Warwickshire’s border. MIRA is planning a 538,000 sq ft engineering centre for its own use at the site. The park will also house specialist research and development buildings, a 100-bed hotel, retail, leisure and restaurant facilities.
MIRA was recently awarded circa £20m of regional growth funding to assist with the road infrastructure improvements that will serve the new development.
MIRA chief executive George Gillespie said: “The technology park and our new state-of-the-art engineering headquarters are fundamental to our on-going expansion plans – the secretary of state’s decision was crucial.”
lisa.pilkington@estatesgazette.com
