Car storage depot creating 140 jobs could be created at East of England Showground

A car storage operation creating 140 jobs could be set up on a 19 hectare site at the East of England Showground.

Plans have been drawn up by the showground operator East of England Showground Services seeking a change of use permission for of a section of the Showground and the exhibition hall.

It is proposed to use the site for car storage and distribution as well as for car preparation and maintenance.

The proposal includes putting up two mobile office cabins and two paint booths/ovens and a marquee.

If approved the operation would take place between 6am and 6pm Monday to Friday.

The plans, which seek a five year temporary use of the site, have been submitted to Peterborough City Council.

East of England Showground Services states that some 35 hectares of the showground is not impacted by the proposals.

In a document submitted with the application, Nick Harding, of Lincs Town Planning Services, which are agents for the site operator, states: “The proposal includes a number of elements which will only be likely to be in place until the end of September 2023 and will certainly be removed by the end of December 2023.

"The elements are the marquee, outdoor paint booths/ovens and mobile office buildings.”

He adds: “The Arena building is the only building that is proposed to be altered and all other buildings remain unaltered.”

In a separate document, Mr Harding warns that open storage of vehicles will have the largest impact on nearby residents.

He adds: “This must be considered against the fact a significant proportion of the site is already a surfaced car park and also that the number of showground events that can be held on the site is unrestricted.

He says the impact would be no worse than if a large event was being held.

Mr Harding also states that the speedway stadium is not affected by the proposal.

The new proposals come as the East of England Showground owner, AEPG (Asset Earning Power Group), says it is about to submit an outline planning application for the 50 acre leisure village, to be called Cultura, alongside 1,500 homes for the East of England Showground site in the Ortons.