A landmark master plan to create 3,600 jobs at a giant development on the outskirts of Southampton hangs in the balance.
Proposals to transform disused land at Adanac Park in Nursling into a huge complex with dozens of businesses were defiantly blocked by planning chiefs last night.
Members of Test Valley District Council’s planning committee rejected four out of nine separate applications of a blueprint to develop the 78-acre site, next to the M271 and Ordnance Survey’s new headquarters.
Acting against officer recommendations, the committee claimed key parts of landowner Barker-Mill Estates’ vision to create more than 47,000sq m of business space and 31,700sq m of storage and distribution space failed to create enough quality employment in the area.
They also complained much of the development would cause noise and pollution for people living in some homes planned for the site and people already living nearby.
The decision will ultimately be decided by the county’s planning control.
Councillors were particularly against plans to create two separate 27,600sq m and 4,100sq m zones of storage distribution and general industry, ruling it contradicted local policy of promoting the area for hi-tech and skilled jobs.
Cllr Mark Cooper told the meeting that better quality employment was needed and said: “We want to be the brains of the world.
“We don’t want to be a country importing from South Korea and China to process them in warehouses.”
Cllr Nigel Anderton said the proposed distribution centres would be too close to proposed houses making it “appalling” for future residents.
The panel also accepted plans to transform Grade II listed buildings at Bargain Farm into homes but rejected the developer’s plans for 23 homes due to its perceived “poor design”.
But they ratified plans to create two other 10,840sq m and 12,941sq m of light industrial use on the site and a restaurant in Adanac Triangle.
Afterwards Barker-Mill Estates trustee Tim Jobling said the developers are considering their options and added: “We are deeply disappointed that our plans to progress such an economically beneficial development for the community have been declined.”
Southampton City Council and Hampshire County Council have previously backed the plans.
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