THE owner of a derelict retail park in Basingstoke is being urged to sell it or come up with a new plan after its proposal to develop the site was rejected.

Equation Properties was left “very disappointed” in October 2022 when the borough council refused its planning application to transform the 3.24-hectare Brighton Hill Retail Park, in Winchester Road.

The company said it is “considering our options”, which could include appealing the council’s decision.

READ MORE: Brighton Hill Retail Park could become 'anti-social behaviour magnet'

However, leader of the Basingstoke and Deane Labour Group, Cllr Andrew McCormick, said the “only solution” is for the owners to come up with new plans or sell the site.

He accused Equation Properties of refusing to engage and said: “The new landowners decided they would redevelop the site and build warehouse units that were unwanted. They also didn’t pay attention to local factors and a large number of empty warehouse units recently built at Viables less than two miles down the road.

“Their approach to the development – ‘you’d better let us build it or it will become a magnet for anti-social behaviour’ -showed a completely tone-deaf approach, not least to planning law.”

SEE ALSO: Owner considers appealing refusal of plan to develop Brighton Hill Retail Park

He added: “Let us build it or there will be anti-social behaviour’ is not a reason in planning law. It’s not relevant to any of our policies in the Local Plan that are used as a basis for granting/refusing planning applications, and it has no relevance to the National Planning Policy Framework from which our local policies are derived.”

The retail park has been empty since the last retailer – Carpetright – left in June 2022.

Equation Properties was granted permission to demolish the buildings on the site last year but delayed knocking them down while it waited for a decision on its plans to develop the site and erect two buildings for commercial and office use.

The borough council then refused its plans to turn the site into a 24/7 commercial development in October 2022, labelling it “dominant and intrusive”.

The application was refused on five grounds including the height of the buildings; noise; highway safety; and inadequate parking.

Equation Properties said the council’s refusal would “paralyse this prominent site for a considerable amount of time”, adding that the site has become “an eyesore which is blighted by regular anti-social behaviour”.

A spokesperson for Equation Properties said: “We recognise that it’s in everyone’s benefit to find a constructive and positive new use for the former Brighton Hill retail park.

“Our vision will deliver significant investment, create new jobs, provide infrastructure improvements, and there would be fewer vehicle movements than when the retail park was trading.

“We were disappointed when our first application was refused because the site is being blighted by antisocial behaviour and we want to transform it as soon as we can.

“As a result, we are keen to work with the council and the community to deliver an appropriate scheme, and we intend to consult residents and the local authority in due course.

“We remain committed to delivering a high-quality development that will create jobs and deliver a host of other major benefits, and we are keen to work with the council and the community to turn this vision into a reality.”