en.Wedoany.com Reported - A proposed 2.7 million square foot industrial and commercial park on greenbelt land near Popham Airfield in Hampshire, UK, would become a large logistics hub once completed. The site, located opposite the A303 road which runs along the eastern side of the airfield, would completely engulf a farm currently situated there. The developer has submitted a planning application to Basingstoke Council, with the deadline for residents to submit objections being 28 May 2026.
The Popham Matters group stated: "This is a development entirely separate from the proposed project at Popham Airfield, but clearly any major new development in the area will have implications for the Popham Garden Village plans." The group is leading opposition against the proposed garden village project at Popham Airfield. The group said: "Our professional planning consultants have reviewed these plans, and we believe the logistics park development itself does not pose a threat to the continued operation of the airfield."
Local residents have raised several specific concerns about the project. Regarding traffic, the project would attract an additional 32,000 vehicles per day onto the roads between Winchester and Basingstoke, including a large number of heavy goods vehicles, while the local road network is single carriageway with no pavements or cycle lanes. The site purchased for a new Hampshire hospital would become unviable due to road overcapacity. The project would bring 24-hour traffic and noise pollution, along with light pollution throughout the night.
In terms of infrastructure, South East Water has indicated that existing expansion plans have insufficient water resources, and the project includes no sewage infrastructure, with wastewater to be pumped to the North Waltham village treatment plant. The required electricity, water supply, and wastewater infrastructure are not in place. Environmentally, the project is located on high ground, with warehouse roofs at an elevation of 158 metres, covering an area of 254,000 square metres and standing 25 metres tall, making them conspicuous in the rural landscape. 150 acres of greenfield farmland would be covered by car parks and buildings, and the site is a habitat for multiple species, including 12 species of British bats. The site sits directly above the chalk aquifer that feeds the Rivers Test, Itchen, and Loddon. 393 acres of land would be taken out of agricultural production.
Regarding employment and the local economy, the area's low unemployment rate cannot supply the thousands of workers needed, and the warehouse model encourages the import of goods through Southampton and Portsmouth. The first occupier is reported to be Amazon, and the applicant is a company registered in the British Virgin Islands. The site was previously rejected during the local plan site selection stage due to visual impact and poor transport access, and the draft Basingstoke and Deane Local Plan has already accounted for the necessary logistics space.
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