WHY HERE
Central Bedfordshire is strategically positioned for logistics at the heart of the country, and the site’s close access to a major arterial route underpins its credentials both as a location for business, but also its potential to maximise employment opportunities.
Our proposals will help to meet the recognised local need for employment by delivering around 1,500 new jobs on site across a range of skills and sectors. Our research has identified there are approximately 7,500 people currently unemployed with a further 12,000 people identified as being ‘economically inactive who would like a job’ living within 10 km of Toddington Park.
Our work to date has provisionally identified a need in excess of 340 ha for high quality logistics floor space along the principal M1 corridor, which carries five times the HGV movements of the A1. This estimate is subject to the completion of further technical work. Our proposals will also help to meet the government’s identified need for at least six gigawatts (GW) of AI-capable data centre capacity by 2030.
Our proposals will also unlock a unique opportunity for Moto to meet the identified need for HGV / eHGV parking spaces at the required scale by expanding their provision at Toddington Southbound Services.
Our site is the right size to respond to this identified need while also helping to meet the growing demand for high-quality logistics floorspace and data centres along the M1 corridor and across the wider region.
Specifically, its proximity to Junction 12 of the M1 and Harlington Railway Station means the site can capitalise on existing connectivity to make it a sustainable location for delivering both new employment and storage / distribution (B8) uses which require good transport connectivity. The site has also been chosen due to its proximity to high-voltage power infrastructure that is needed to support the proposed uses on site.
ed
The delivery of improved HGV / eHGV services
Moto is the UK’s largest operator of motorway services and is currently carrying out a UK-wide programme to upgrade existing Motorway Service Areas.
This programme seeks to provide more HGV parking capacity, as well as assisting the UK in achieving its net zero targets by providing parking and charging facilities for Electric Heavy Goods Vehicles (eHGV). Expanding their parking provision at Toddington Southbound Services is a unique opportunity for Moto to unlock the required demand for suitable spaces on the strategic road network. The parking area will be accessed and egressed via the existing Southbound Services.
The improvements to HGV provision at the Southbound Services will also include a new HGV driver welfare facility, which will be shaped by the needs and requirements of users. These changes will also help to improve road safety by providing much-needed welfare for HGV drivers, which is in very short supply in this section of the road network.
Employment land need and job creation
There is a substantial unmet need for industrial and logistics floorspace in Central Bedfordshire and our proposals are well placed to help meet this. There is an identified need for over 340 hectares of high-quality floorspace over the next 20 years, alongside the national requirement for new data centres to meet the government’s identified need for at least 6 gigawatts (GW) of AI-capable data centre capacity by 2030.
Logistics demand is focused on the M1 southbound because it is the principal freight corridor running through Central Bedfordshire, carrying five times the HGV movements of the A1.
Our proposals will contribute to job creation and help to deliver the Council’s aspirations to make Central Bedfordshire a strong and successful economy and a great place to do business. Around 1,500 new jobs will be delivered on site across a wide range of sectors including logistics, manufacturing and data centres, with a diverse range of roles available, from entry-level positions to higher-value, skilled and technical jobs.