A DEVELOPER'S quest to build a Lidl warehouse in Basingstoke has been thrown out on appeal by a planning inspector. 

Newlands Property Developments had appealed against Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s decision to reject the plans for a new distribution hub on land at Oakdown Farm in Dummer.

A government inspector, however, dismissed the appeal after finding that the council’s decision was correct.

Inspector Stephen Wilkinson wrote in his final report that the reason for refusal – concerning the amount of floorspace proposed for the site – is more intrinsic than the developer’s arguments.

READ MORE: Council refuses plan to build Lidl warehouse at Basingstoke Gateway

He wrote: “I accept that the proposed amount of floorspace is justified with reference to sub-regional and local demand.

“However, my findings on the degree of landscape and visual harm arising from the scheme reflect both the extent of groundworks required and its scale and massing when set against the site’s constraints. These matters have not been satisfactorily resolved through mitigation in accordance with policy.

“I conclude that the degree of harm caused by this scheme would be of such significance that it conflicts with policies of Basingstoke and Deane Local Plan 2016.

“Having considered all the evidence before me the proposal conflicts with the Development Plan when taken as a whole and there are no material considerations to outweigh this finding. For this reason, the appeal is dismissed.”

The appeal inquiry was held from October 18 to 21, and the inspector visited the site on the last day of the hearing.

A group named CAGE (Clean Air Green Environment), which has been campaigning alongside Dummer Parish Council against the warehouse plans shared their “absolute delight” in the outcome of the appeal.

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The jubilant members said they plan to go to a local pub on Thursday evening to celebrate the success.

CAGE spokesperson Christine Northam said: “We’re absolutely overjoyed. It looks like the inspector’s report means any further appeals or similar proposals on that land will be unsuccessful.”

She said the group was “very sceptical” after the appeal hearing and felt that “the odds were loaded against” the community.

“We weren't sure, but we knew that what we were saying was truthful. So this is absolutely great.”

The campaign group thanked everyone, including Maria Miller MP, who supported their objections.

“We need to thank our local councillors, our MP, and county councillors Stephen Reid and Juliet Henderson who brilliantly supported us. They were all fantastic.”