Newlands Development: New proposal for Oakdown Farm revealed

Newlands Developments has made public the plans for the distribution hub on the land next to Junction 7 on the M3 after its previous scheme was thrown out by a planning inspector in December last year.

The updated proposals include eight units providing 920,000 sq ft of floor space, a reduction of over 80,000 sq ft from the previous plan and a proposed new roundabout that will be reduced in size.

John Barker, senior development director at Newlands, told the Gazette he hopes residents will back these plans because there would be a "15 per cent reduction" in the size of the development and it has been  put together with a "truly landscape-led approach."

READ MORE: Newlands Development: New proposal for Oakdown Farm

He hopes residents will be pleased to hear that much of the site would be dedicated to green infrastructure. Residents will be given the chance to suggest ideas for the green spaces as plans progress.

He said: "This could be anything from community orchards to bee hives. I think the key thing here is we are much more targeted towards sustainability and it will be a Net Zero Carbon development."

He continued: "There was an unmet need for this type of development in Basingstoke within the Local Plan and no other sites have come forward."

This will be the developer's third application. It submitted a revised application to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) for the hub, which included plans to build a Lidl warehouse.

Members of the council's development control committee refused Newlands’ previous application - understood to be earmarked for Amazon. Members of the same committee refused Newlands’ revised application. 

The developer then filed an appeal against the decision but this was also thrown out by an inspector following a four-day hearing. 

A spokesperson for Newlands said: ‘Our new proposals will take a different approach to the height and massing of the buildings, ensuring they assimilate with the natural landscape more effectively. 

“Our scheme has an important role to play in delivering wider, long-term ambitions for Basingstoke. These proposals are set to provide approximately 1,100 new jobs for local people and bring £70 million of investment into Basingstoke."

The new proposal also promises that £1.5 million of sustainable travel infrastructure will be secured.

The new plan has been compiled using feedback from the community, council and appeal inspector.

SEE ALSO: Lidl warehouse in Basingstoke: Developer's appeal dismissed

The proposed new roundabout along with the wider improvements to the surrounding road networks have been designed to provide better access that will enable future development on Southern Manydown and help facilitate the potential new hospital.

Residents are now being given the chance to have their say during a consultation period that launched on Tuesday, November 7 with a feedback deadline of Tuesday, November 28.

Mr Barker said: "I think we would really encourage residents to come along to these meetings to discuss the ideas. We are really looking forward to engaging with the community and we would like to see a huge level of attendance." 

Two public consultations will take place on Wednesday, November 15 from 3pm to 8pm at Basingstoke Golf Club and Saturday, November 18 from 10am to 2pm at St Michael’s Church, Church Street, in the town centre.

Feedback can also be submitted online at basingstokegateway.co.uk.