Newlands Developments: Residents continue to object to plan

Many have said it will increase traffic, cause potential accidents and be "detrimental" to the environment.

As previously reported, Newlands Developments has submitted plans to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for a 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.

READ MORE: Newlands Developments: Resident object to third plan

The largest building would provide 23,830 sq ft of floor space while the smallest would be 3,252 sq ft. A proposed new roundabout would also be reduced in size. 

At the time of writing, the application had 266 comments, of which 263 were objections to the controversial plans.

Nicola Sanvoisin, who lives in North Waltham, commented: "I am extremely concerned about the proposal consisting of EIGHT units of warehouse space in green field space next to two villages will be very detrimental.

"I do not feel the infrastructure is anywhere near to being adequate, the increased traffic, potential accidents, noise and light pollution, as well as the detrimental effects on the environment and local habitats makes it a very unsuitable place to develop."

Emma Deacon commented to say she has fears about the impact on wildlife, saying: "Building on this site will permanently destroy natural wildlife and their long-established natural habitats.

"The introduction (albeit for a relatively short build period) of heavy-duty construction machinery, combined with the very long term influx of HGV lorries accessing the operational warehouses, is totally at odds with Basingstoke Council’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030."

Others shares concerns that plans are "no different" to previous applications for the site.

Dummer resident David Craven said: "I would like to object to the plans for warehouses at the Oakdown Farm site.

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"This is the third time of objecting to this planning application that seems to have changed very little since the previous applications and so I see no reason that the negative landscape and visual impact of the scheme should have changed from the last refusal and as such the developers are again wasting time and money for all."

Basingstoke's MP Maria Miller is also against plans, especially if a new hospital is built on the site. The area has been earmarked as the preferred location for a new Basingstoke hospital. 

In her letter, she said: "This application for a new distribution centre would have a significant impact on traffic congestion levels on local roads and congestion at junction 7 of the M3, including possible traffic queuing, as is regularly seen at other M3 junctions."

She has urged for the application to be rejected.