PLANS approved last night for a controversial warehouse at Basingstoke Gateway have been met with mixed reaction, with one local resident branding it ‘common sense’, while another pointed out it would mean ‘waving goodbye’ to countryside space.

Members of the borough council’s development control committee appeared torn between job opportunities at the unit, thought to be planned as an Amazon hub, and environmental impact as they approved the 630,000 square foot distribution hub for the site near Junction 7 of the M3, by six votes to four.

They had previously denied developer Newlands outline permission for four warehouses on the site, based on the ‘visual impact’ and lack of mitigation for disruption.

However, councillors were convinced by the ‘tempting’ offer of nearly 1,500 jobs and assurances that the one approved unit will not be visible from nearby Dummer.

Reacting to the Gazette’s coverage on Facebook, many local people expressed their gratitude at the prospect of an influx of jobs.

Paul Jones wrote: “Brilliant in the hard times we have been going through where everything is closing it’s actually nice to see job prospects on the horizon.”

Agreeing, Dave Watson added: “Great. Glad they saw common sense. I agree that we hate to see green fields vanish, but local jobs are more crucial at present.”

While Michael Riddle posed a question to objectors: “I’m guessing all these people that are against this build don’t buy online, especially Amazon, then?”

On the other side of the debate was reader Chadina SK, who wrote: “Wave goodbye to 80 oak trees, beautiful countryside and say hello to noise, light and air pollution along with blocked roads in and out of Basingstoke.”

Others were not convinced by the promise of jobs, with Linda Freed commenting: “Jobs will not be for locals and when the M3 is blocked which way are these lorries going to go?”

While Paige Ross pointed out that the council’s plans for a new transport system are still in early stages, adding: “For a low paid job, you expect someone from Popley or Chineham to get a bus into town and then a bus into Kempshott/Beggarwood and then walk from golf club down into Dummer? I just honestly don’t see how it’s feasible.”

Central government will now consider whether it wants to ‘call-in’ the application, as requested by a group of local MPs, including Maria Miller, who branded the decision ‘disappointing’.

Also reacting to the decision, Newlands Developments’ development director John Barker said: “We have worked closely with Council officers and other stakeholders over the past two years. We thank everyone for their hard work and to committee members for supporting our application for the logistics centre. This is great news for the future prosperity of Basingstoke.

“As well as the much-talked-about occupier for the full application, we are now very close to signing agreements on the other plots too – those covered by the outline application.

“So, clearly it is extremely disappointing that officers recommended the outline application was refused, given we are talking about delivering more jobs and investment into the town at a time of economic uncertainty."

He continued: “Yes, it’s a real shame we could not get on with delivering all those jobs, but I don’t want to detract from the fact that we now have permission for the major regional distribution building that will be occupied by a well-known logistics operator.”