THE council will take no further action regarding a "massive investment" involving the creation of more than four new buildings at AWE.

An application seeking planning permission for the erection of 42,785m2 of space, comprising more than four buildings plus a freestanding calibration unit was submitted back in June 2022.

The buildings, consisting of a staff welfare space, offices, research, laboratories, education/training facilities plus storage and workshops all for the purposes of national defence with regards to the atomic industry, would form a new area known as 'The HUB'.

The application would require new internal access routes, landscaping and a variety of sustainable drainage system (SUDS) measures.

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CGI of The HUBCGI of The HUB (Image: West Berkshire District Council)

The four buildings with a covered interconnecting "street" will be divided into an engineering wing, a science wing, a learning wing and an office wing.

These will all lie immediately to the east of the existing Gemini Building on site, and north of South Road one of the main interconnecting routes in the AWE site.

To the east of the buildings will be what are named eastern meadows which will include a dry and wet basin for SUDS measures, with the single-storey calibration unit to the northeast sector.

Between the buildings, as set out in an H pattern will be a northern and southern courtyard for landscaping/amenity purposes.

The maximum height of the buildings will be just over 30m but this equates to the top height of the various flues on the roof—not the roof itself.

This will be set at 20.4m for the parapet of the principal buildings and 8.67m for the calibration unit.

The application represents a massive investment in the future of the AWE site to centralise and improve the overall efficiency and productivity of the workspace across the site to the benefit of all employees—whose numbers will not increase due to the scheme, since up to 75000m2 of existing poor space /buildings on site are to be demolished over time during and following the completion of the scheme.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) was asked to consider if the application, which was approved by West Berkshire District Council, would have any impacts on BDBC land or developments.

In a report, BDBC case officer Nicola Williams said: "The main issue for consideration was whether the proposal would give rise to any strategic impacts on Basingstoke and Deane Borough.

"Since receipt of the consultation, the application has now been determined with an approval of planning permission on August 25, 2022.

"As such there is no further action to take.

"It is recommended that no further action be taken following the determination of the planning application subject of this out-of-borough consultation by West Berkshire Council on the 25 August 2022."