The Harworth Group has submitted an outline planning application to create a £250m mixed office/warehouse employment hub near the M18/M180 junction in South Yorkshire.

The Gateway 180 application would deliver nearly 3million sqft of employment space at Thorne near Doncaster and the 20-month construction phase is due to start in the first quarter of 2023. Carter Jonas has been employed as planning partners and Wakefield-based Harris Partnership as architects.

Peter Henry, Harworth Group Regional Director (Yorkshire & Central), said: “New industrial and warehousing development in this location will attract major investment into Doncaster. Harworth has a proven track record of delivering new employment opportunities in Yorkshire and has worked with Doncaster Council previously on the regeneration of the former Rossington colliery site, which is being transformed into a new housing development for 1,200 homes called Pheasant Hill Park off Junction 3 of the M18.”

The Bradholme Farm development plans are split into two employments zones to the north and south of the 257-acre site, which are set around a large central landscaped area incorporating ponds, with footpaths and cycle routes linking the scheme to Thorne and nearby Thorne South railway station.

The proposed layout allows for a range of employment uses – the northern zone, which is adjacent to Thorne, would offer smaller employment units ranging from 10,000 sqft to 170,000 sqft, while the southern section has been designed to provide larger warehouse units spanning from 160,000 sqft to 775,000 sqft.

In preparation, Harworth has conducted extensive due diligence and has sought to address all technical issues in its application, such as transport, flood risk and ecology. The application is also accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment, which includes an assessment of the socio-economic benefits that the development can deliver to Thorne and the wider Doncaster area.

Peter added: “The employment proposal for Bradholme Farm is one of a number of sites being considered by Doncaster Council and the Local Plan Inspector as part of the preparation of its new Local Plan. We consider this site to be one of the most sustainable and well-connected sites in this part of Doncaster, which would bring important regeneration benefits for Thorne. We have also ensured that our application addresses the planning issues raised by the Planning Inspector at the recent Local Plan Examination.”

The plan for the proposed 257-acre business park close to Thorne near Doncaster