Ashfield Innovation and Technology Park consultation 

Ashfield District Council is asking residents and businesses for their views on the proposed Ashfield Innovation and Technology Park (AITP) on Lowmoor Road. 

The £100m project would see the land opposite Sutton Parkway train station become a new business park focused on advanced manufacturing, technology and innovation, attracting further employment opportunities - the business park will be home to over 500 jobs. 

The Council is consulting the local area with an in-person event on Tuesday 18 November at the Junction pub, 2 Newark Rd, Sutton-in-Ashfield NG17 5JP. From 3pm – 7pm, residents and businesses are invited to look over the initial plans, discuss them with the team, and make any comments which will then inform the planning application. The survey and plans will also be available on the Council’s website until 25 November. 

The plans for the site include creating two green buffers – areas between the residential areas and the AITP which would remain green and undeveloped – to provide greater biodiversity as well as privacy for residents. As many as 100 trees will be planted across the site, and an attenuation pond will be created to help mitigate flooding concerns. 

Currently, the Council is in the process of building the Automated Manufacturing and Distribution Centre (ADMC), their flagship project of the Towns Deal funding, on the southern corner of the land. The ADMC is set to become a centre of excellence for automation, allowing residents and businesses to adapt to and train in various digital technologies. 

The proposed AITP would complement the ADMC and attract similar businesses to invest in Ashfield, as well as allowing existing local businesses to grow. Seven units are being considered providing a mix of office, research and development, industrial and distribution space. 

Cllr Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council, said

“The Ashfield Innovation and Technology Park presents us with a unique opportunity to accelerate economic growth in Ashfield. Purpose-built units would allow existing businesses to grow and expand, whilst attracting other high-value businesses to move into Ashfield and invest further. 

“Ultimately the Council aims to secure more investment into the District to create more highly paid and skilled jobs for local residents, and the AITP is going to help us achieve this. We want our young people to have aspirations and show them that they don’t have to move out of the area to get these desirable jobs. We want to help Ashfield-based businesses to adapt to new technologies so they can keep up and to help them grow to meet new markets”.  

Posted on 17 November 2025