DEVELOPERS wanting to build a massive warehouse site near the M3 have pledged £1.4 million in bus services to the town.

Newlands, who are currently awaiting planning permission for Basingstoke Gateway at Oakdown Farm, near Junction 7, have said that they will pay the money to subsidise bus services from the town centre to the site.

It will fund bus services between 5am and 7pm for three years, whilst also contributing to a new mass rapid transit system earmarked by both the borough and county council as a future cornerstone of public transport in the town.

Newlands’s development director John Barker said: “Our distribution hub has been carefully designed as an integral part of the Council’s SW Basingstoke Gateway Vision.

"By helping deliver bus services, the Mass Rapid Transit system and new cycle routes, our development will play a key role in connecting people not just to the newly created jobs, but also to the other proposed developments in this corridor including the proposed hospital.

“We’ve been very thorough and diligent in ensuring the building is energy efficient and future-proofed to meet the Council’s goal of zero carbon by 2030.

"This costs a lot more than a standard building, but we are committed to supporting the Council’s strategic objectives.”

The new proposed development has been controversial, with residents setting up a protest group to oppose the plans, whilst politicians including the mayor and Maria Miller speaking out against it.

Mrs Miller said that the application "would be in breach of planning rules" and that it "conflicts with national Government policies", stating clearly that she would prefer that there be a new hospital on the site instead.

Meanwhile Cllr Diane Taylor, who represents the ward of Oakley and North Waltham, said that the proposal of a distribution centre "is not part of the vision for the town", labelling it "a money-making exercise with little benefit to the Borough of Basingstoke & Deane and its residents".

Basingstoke Gateway is part of the borough council's strategic vision for the land around the motorway junction, which also includes new housing and a potential new hospital.

Now, the developers have outlined contributions they will make to ensure the distribution hub is "environmentally sustainable - and supports the Council’s SW Basingstoke Gateway Vision by helping fund some of the important non-car travel options".

Newlands also propose funding strategic cycleways to travel to the site, to encourage walking and cycling to and from work.

Staff cycling to the distribution hub would also have changing/shower facilities, safe bike storage and lockers.

The new hub will have electric vehicle charging points for staff cars, with spaces prioritised for those car sharing.

As well as these measures, the developer is proposing a low-energy building design, which includes solar panels and air source heat pumps to generate at least 15 per cent of energy onsite.

The first building will be BREEAM Excellent, the highest energy-efficiency standard for new buildings, and will be future-proofed to be able to meet Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s pledge to make the borough zero carbon by 2030.

Along the South of the M3, the proposals include a 530 metre ‘bund’ or embankment, which will become an important biodiversity habitat, planted with native species.

Newlands say the bund would be 18m high at the widest point, gradually reducing in height to the east and west.

In addition, up to 20 bird and bat boxes would be located around the perimeter of the development site.

As previously reported, Amazon are believed to be the first occupier of the new site, if planning permission is obtained.

The multinational company looks set to take one of four warehouses proposed on Oakdown Farm, adjacent to Junction 7 of the M3.

The file name of a planning document submitted to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council indicates that Newlands, which is proposing the site, has a folder for ‘Amazon ARS Basingstoke’ as one of its 2020 projects.

Newlands say that the project will bring £150 million of investment to the borough, creating 1,500 jobs.