Defiant residents aim to block Southampton industrial complex

Developer Evander Properties’ plans, revealed by the Daily Echo earlier this year, could see a distribution and industrial park created on land in Test Lane, Redbridge.

But residents fear that the proposals could lead to their lives being made a misery by noise, traffic and pollution, and have called a meeting to debate the plans again tonight.

A deal to sell the former landfill site to Evander Properties was agreed by the city council last year.

The firm put forward its initial plans for the 16-acre plot next to the Daily Echo’s offices last summer, saying that the proposals could lead to 750 jobs being created.

In its planning application, the firm says that the 21,000 sq m complex would see three new buildings up to 14.5m in height built, alongside a servicing area and car parking.

Two of the units would be used for storage and distribution, with the third for industrial use.

The planning application is likely to go before the city council’s planning panel in February.

But residents living in Gover Road, opposite the site, have already announced their intention to fight the proposals.

They say that the proposed use and the amount of lorries that would use the site would lead to an “unacceptable” level of noise pollution.

They are concerned about the visual impact of the large new buildings opposite their homes and have voiced fears that their road would become congested with huge lorries going to and from the site.
Redbridge Residents’ Association chairman Eugene McManus is organising the meeting.

He says that the group is willing to have development on the site but the proposals are too large and would lead to noise, light and air pollution.

He said: “It’s the sheer size and nature of the development.

“Having a 24-hour, seven days a week distribution centre close to residents is unacceptable.”

The meeting takes place at 7.30pm tonight at the Ship Inn in Old Redbridge Road.