IT IS the end of an era for a Basingstoke retail park which is set to be demolished later this month.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has given the go-ahead for Baronet Propco Limited (BGO) to demolish the buildings at Brighton Hill Retail Park on August 29.

The last retailer to vacate the site was Carpetright on June 24.

As previously reported, the retail park, which has been in the town for more than 30 years, is set to be replaced with ‘commercial accommodation’.

READ MORE: Brighton Hill Retail Park to be knocked down and replaced with warehouses 

Equation Properties Limited submitted a planning application to the borough council in January to build two showrooms and trade counters at the site, however the plans are yet to be decided.

The site would operate 24-hours a day, seven days a week, creating between 184 and 415 new full-time jobs.

Cllr Andy Konieczko, Liberal Democrat councillor for Brighton Hill, has raised concerns that the site could become derelict if the application is refused.

He added: “While I suspect there is little that we can do as a planning authority to prevent this, I would hope that the landowner recognises that it’s in nobody’s best interest to allow this to happen.”

He also called for the applicant to coordinate the demolition work with the redevelopment of Brighton Hill Roundabout “so that demolition traffic isn’t trying to access the roundabout and surrounding roads at the same time as major roundabout upgrade works are taking place”.

He added: “It’s vital that the site is kept secure both during and after the demolition work so that it doesn’t become a location for car meets.”

SEE ALSO: Road improvements start at Brighton Hill Roundabout 

Cllr Andrew McCormick, the Basingstoke and Deane Labour Group leader who represents Brighton Hill, fears that the demolition will generate noise for residents.

Cllr McCormick said he had already received complaints from residents regarding noise from the Brighton Hill roundabout works along with noise from the Motorola site demolition.

He added: “I fear I will get more again this time.”

The borough council advised the applicant that it did not need prior approval for the method of demolition.

However, it asked the applicant to “appropriately plan and manage” the demolition to “fully safeguard all users of the public highway”.

It advised that all works should be carried out between 7.30am and 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.

No work is allowed to happen on Sundays, bank holidays and public holidays.

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