Plans by Google to construct a brand new knowledge centre campus at North Weald Airfield in Essex have been authorized by Epping Forest District Council.
The council’s planning committee signed off the define software on Wednesday, paving the best way for a improvement that may see present fireplace station blocks demolished and changed with two knowledge centre buildings alongside separate workplace house, inside roads and parking.
A report introduced to councillors stated the venture is anticipated to create as much as 780 native jobs, together with as much as 200 ‘direct jobs’, and contribute £79 million a yr to the native financial system. The identical report stated it might generate £319 million for the nationwide financial system.
Whereas the approval provides Google a route ahead on the former RAF airfield, the choice is for define planning permission, with additional element anticipated to comply with on design and supply because the venture progresses.
It additionally comes on the again of opposition from the native parish council, which filed its objection to the scheme in Could earlier this yr. On the time, the council famous, “At this stage, it’s unclear precisely what impression the proposed buildings would have on airfield operations, and it’s at finest untimely (at worst, probably catastrophic) to agree {that a} most top of 24m is suitable.”
It additionally highlighted the potential ‘safety danger’ to the airfield, the info centre’s failure to ‘shield and improve’ the character of the realm, extra noise, in addition to potential glare from on-site photo voltaic. Basically, something it might discover incorrect with the positioning – discovered its method into the parish council’s objection.
Fortunately for Google, cooler heads prevailed on the district council, which authorized the scheme. That’s not solely stunning, given Google agreed to buy the positioning in January 2024, paying the council £88.2 million for the land.
Part 106 and native impacts
Planning permission for the positioning is topic to Part 106 contributions being agreed, with the developer’s commitments not but set out in full.
Nevertheless, the report instructed the contributions might help upgrades to junction seven of the M11 close by, which is more likely to be a key problem as plans transfer from define consent in direction of detailed design.
The council has additionally conceded there could also be an impression on the North Weald Market, which is held on Saturdays on the airfield and sells gadgets together with clothes, homeware and meals. Round 300 stalls are usually arrange, however councillors had been informed the quantity might must be diminished by as many as 100.
