By Jamie Waller, Local Democracy Reporter
Difficulty in relocating Newark’s lorry park has stalled plans for the creation of a high-tech supply and logistics centre.
The council was awarded £4.2m of Towns Fund cash in 2021 to invest in the former cattle market and lorry park area.
The Newark Gateway project – formally known as a Smart Innovation, Supply Chain and Logistics Enterprise Zone – was intended to create hundreds of jobs and make the town a regional logistics hub.
However, Newark & Sherwood District Council documents say that there is “no current viable option” for the necessary relocation and expansion of the lorry park.
Officers had considered areas around the A17 and the Newark Showground, but say inflation and rising costs mean none of them are currently possible.
A Cabinet meeting next week is likely to recommend pausing the project until a site can be found.
The Towns Fund money needs to be spent before March 2026 or be returned to government, so council leaders will look at reallocating the money to other approved projects.
A total of £4m will go towards the ongoing development of old Marks & Spencers on Stodman Street which will become 29 homes and two retail units.
Demolition is currently underway, with building expected to start soon.
The remaining £310,000 will fund the redevelopment of Newark Castle’s gatehouse, which was approved earlier this year.
A new ramp will be created to allow visitors to enter through the gatehouse on Beastmarket Hill as part of a larger restoration.
The council report doesn’t rule out bringing the logistics centre back at some point in the future, although new funding would need to be found.
The changes will be discussed at a meeting on Tuesday, May 14.
Future council reports will look into how the lorry park will be affected by the A46 bypass works if it stays in its current location.
The council says “there will be inevitable impacts on the lorry park, including loss of land, loss of lorry park spaces (and associated income), and relocation of the existing access/egress to the site.”
National Highways is expected to submit a Development Consent Order for the A46 works to the Planning Inspectorate in the coming weeks.
