A REVISED plan to regenerate a derelict retail park in Basingstoke has officially been submitted.

Equation Properties Limited is seeking permission from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to regenerate Brighton Hill Retail Park as it looks to provide hundreds of jobs along with several other public benefits. 

It comes after the company held a community consultation during the summer.

The Gazette had revealed in an exclusive report in July that Equation was planning to build several warehouse units on the brownfield site.

READ MORE: New plans revealed for development of Brighton Hill Retail Park

Permission has already been granted to demolish the empty retail units between Winchester Road and The Harrow Way, with the former Pizza Hut unit recently demolished to reduce anti-social behaviour. 

The derelict land has been subject to anti-social behaviour, vandalism, and arson in recent months.

However, Equation believes redeveloping it would help to address those problems.

The company proposes the construction of a high-quality, sustainable trade park on the brownfield site to meet growing demand.

The proposals also include significant landscaping and biodiversity improvements, enhancing the verdancy of the area, and could see the creation of more than 350 permanent jobs.

Equation first applied to regenerate the site last year, but the plans were rejected by officers at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Having taken onboard the reasons given for refusal, the plans have been revised.

The improvements include:

  • Upgraded road access from the A30 and no vehicular access from The Harrow Way

  • Improved layout and reducing the size of the buildings with c1,000 sqm less floorspace

  • Setting back the buildings from the A30 and The Harrow Way

  • Restrictions on operating times so HGVs are restricted from visiting the site between 11pm and 7am

The changes are in addition to the benefits that the original scheme would have provided, which are still due to be delivered.

These include:

  • Significant investment into Basingstoke and increased business rates of more than £900,000 per year

  • Transforming a brownfield site which is subject to persistent trespassing, vandalism and arson

  • Cycle parking and electric vehicle charging points to promote greener travel

  • Landscaping and biodiversity improvements resulting in a biodiversity net gain of over 90%

  • Achieving the BREEAM ‘excellent’ standard for environmental design

  • Creating up to 380 permanent jobs once the scheme is completed

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Richard Batham-Read, managing director of Equation, said: “We are committed to transforming the Brighton Hill site which has been targeted by vandals and currently gives a poor impression of Basingstoke.

“We aim to deliver significant investment, creating up to 380 permanent jobs and additional business rates, which will boost the local economy.

“Our vision will lead to the rejuvenation of this brownfield site, and we have listened to the feedback from planning officers after our first application was refused and made sure we have addressed those issues with our revised plan.

“We have also consulted residents and other important local stakeholders and would like to thank them for their valuable input.”

The community engagement included a virtual exhibition accompanied by a drop-in session held in July at Basingstoke Baptist Church.