Nottingham Core and Outer HMA Logistics Study

Local Planning Authorities (LPA) in the Core and Outer Nottingham Housing Market Areas (see map in Appendix) have recently completed an Employment Lands Needs Study which was undertaken by Lichfields. The study concluded that stakeholders felt economic growth across Greater Nottingham has been limited by lack of available large-scale strategic distribution sites over the past decade and that there was capacity for further large-scale distribution centres in the study area. It was also noted that respondents felt that studies forecasting need based purely on past trends will significantly under- estimate the scale of demand.

The Study recommended that given the scale and economic importance of the issue, a strategic study should be commissioned by the District Councils to quantify the exact scale of national /regional B8 logistics need across the Core/Outer Housing Market Areas (HMAs). It indicated that this study should seek to quantify the exact scale of large scale strategic B8 required in this area and potentially identify the specific sites which this need should be allocated. Lichfields view was that the focus of this study should be on the M1 Corridor west of Nottingham where their study demonstrates demand is especially high at present. The authorities whilst supporting such a study, would like it to address future needs across the whole of the two HMA areas