Oakdown Farm: Application to build 8 warehouses approved

The warehouses will be situated within six buildings which will be constructed on the land at Oakdown Farm, Dummer.

Permission was granted for Newlands to create the warehouses on the third attempt, with revised plans that "significantly" reduced the size of the buildings, which were approved after the planning inspectorate rejected the most recent appeal.

In a Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council development control meeting, held on Wednesday, November 6, plans to create six buildings, with two subdivided to provide eight units in total, were given the go-ahead.

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How the warehouses could look (Image: Newlands)

Car and HGV parking is included in the plan, as well as a proposed new access roundabout north of the site on the A30.

Construction of the warehouses would require the demolition of three buildings plus a number of outbuildings.

Speaking at the meeting, Sheila Harden, chair of Dummer Parish Council (DPC) voiced objections to the proposals.

She said that residents of Dummer and the nearby Hounsome Fields and golf course developments which fall under DPC's remit would be "seriously affected by this application."

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She added: "The revision of this application changes little. The size and height of the buildings relative to their surroundings means that the slight adjustments to the lighting, orientation and surface materials of some of the boxes do not change their overwhelming dominance of both close neighbours and the wider landscape."

She explained how "nearly 2,000 houses" whose residents access to work and services are via the A30 and M3 "face the prospect of daily disruption with queues of HGVs trying to negotiate their way to a warehouse from the north and south sliproads.

"This can affect access to homes and make everyday life impossible.

"The statement that HGV traffic can be confined to the M3 link is unrealistic and unenforceable - satnav alternative routes will prevail if there are delays.

"These residents will be subject to 24/7 disruption."

Hampshire County Councillor Stephen Reid spoke at the meeting.

He said: "It seems to me that the applicants are trying to ask the same question over and over again until you give them the answer they want. It's like a child in the supermarket who's been told 'no you're not getting any sweets' - you're then asked the same question over and over again - hoping that by so doing, somehow the answer will change.

"This application is no different in essence from that which you turned down before. It's still on the site that is outside the settlement policy boundary. It still proposes massive buildings out of keeping with the nearby conservation area. Those buildings still impact and are visible from that area. It will still cause nighttime light pollution. It still offers an unsightly gateway into Basingstoke. It is still the wrong development to be sited opposite Basingstoke's preferred site for a new hospital."

John Barker, senior development director for Newlands spoke at the meeting.

He said: "The only reason for refusal of the previous scheme related to landscape impacts.

"Following rigorous engagement with your officers and other stakeholders, we have developed a significantly materially different scheme that thoroughly addresses the appeal inspector's concerns.

"The buildings have been reorientated creating perceivable gaps and key views, breaking up the building elevations. These gaps range from 45 to 117 metres wide and incorporate ecological corridors. There is a 22 per cent reduction in the total floor space and a 69 per cent reduction in the size of the largest unit. All maximum heights across the site have been reduced. The building design now incorporates a pixelated cladding to better blend with the landscape.

"Enhanced landscape mitigation includes planting an additional 5.5 hectares of woodland, the avenue of mature oak trees will be preserved, we will build beehives, a community orchard, trim-trails and open spaces for the public."

The application was approved by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in accordance to conditions.