HUNDREDS of HGVs would pass through the area around a site where warehouses are planned to be built, a planning inquiry heard earlier this week. 

On Tuesday, October 18, a planning appeal hearing has begun for warehouses on land at Oakdown Farm, which includes a distribution centre for the supermarket chain Lidl. 

In May members of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s development control committee refused the application by Newlands Developments for the industrial scheme. 

It came just seven months after, in October 2021, members of the same committee refused a previous application by Newlands - understood to be earmarked for Amazon.

Earlier this year the company appealed the council’s decision against the Lidl scheme and on Tuesday, October 18, an appeal hearing began. 

READ MORE: Oakdown Farm appeal hearing begins as council says Lidl warehouse would 'radically' change character of land

As previously reported, during the second day of the hearing in the afternoon of Wednesday, October 19, Rupert Warren, counsel for the appellant Newlands Developments gave evidence calling on Garry Holliday director at FPCR to present his views.

During cross-examination on Thursday, October 20, Esther Drabkin-Reiter, counsel for Dummer Parish Council revealed hundreds of HGVs would pass around the site each day.

Mr Holliday said: "I am no traffic expert to know what is deemed large or not large. There will be an increase in HGV movement on the site and road networks."

He went on to say it is an "inherent part of the site".

Ms Drabkin also pointed out that the developer states extra planting would reduce the visual/landscape effects as part of their mitigation, which they say would reduce effects within 15 years. She said the landscape will still be affected even after this time.

Mr Holliday answered: "There are no other elements apart from planting to reduce those effects. The effects will reduce as time goes on."

To end the developer's evidence Mr Warren called on Joe Davies, an experienced planner.

Talking about the local plan she said that Basingstoke is ideally placed on the M3 with easy access, insinuating the site is ideally placed to meet the borough's need for such developments.

She went on to say that "there is a significant need" and "there is a real shortage of other sites".

As previously reported Newlands said that the Lidl warehouse would bring hundreds of jobs to Basingstoke. Ms Davies said at least 800 logistic jobs would be created if plans went ahead.

Lidl would occupy the largest of the three warehouses planned. The Gazette understands the occupiers of the other plots have not been confirmed.

Ms Davies added: "There is already a series of occupiers out there looking to occupy a space in the area."

A decision is set to follow in the coming weeks.