MORE than 300 objections have been lodged against proposals for office spaces and warehouses near High Post Business Park.

The buildings would provide employment space for different companies, amounting to 12,744 sqm., involving offices, warehouses, a factory, showroom, and parking.

The proposed site is a field adjacent to the business park.

The consultation deadline for the application is today (Monday, February 28).

Chris Down, 58, who is a lifelong resident of Woodford, said he believed most people "would be horrified" at the prospect of a development between Salisbury and Amesbury.

"We haven't seen anyone in favour of the development to date," he said.

Chris, who is an illustrator, said that his objections are twofold.

The first is transport - he said that the area is already at peak capacity during the morning commute hour, as the local Wiltshire Local Plan Transport Review from January 2021 shows that the A345 around Amesbury and Salisbury is at 100 per cent capacity from 8am to 9am. 

Secondly, he says the buildings will obscure the landscape, and the site can be seen from Old Sarum three miles away.

He adds that the development would also set a precedent for further developments in the area, which is not an area allocated for development in the current Local Plan (Core Strategy).

Application documents say the development would provide employment space for Nationwide Engineering, Apsley Precision Engineering Ltd and C+O Tractors.

For Apsley Precision Engineering, there will be two buildings with parking and yard space, the first building for the manufacturing facility with offices and the second building for warehouse storage.

The building proposed for C&O Tractors will include a workshop space and a trade counter showroom on the ground floor, and office for staff and storage space on the first floor.

The Merlin Centre will comprise three buildings, each one divided into a variety of small business units, with lettable areas. This is intended as a flexible business space for small and start-up businesses.

Two buildings are proposed for Nationwide Engineering Group & Concretene. The first building will have research and development facilities on the ground floor and offices on the upper floors. The second will be a factory with a warehouse for storage of concrete products.

The proposals provide 396 visitor and staff parking spaces.

"Combined, the existing businesses relocating to the site will generate approximately 468 employees at an estimated annual value to the local economy of £19.2 million," says the application form.

The application was made by Hibberd Development Company, based in Amesbury.

Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Development Management at Wiltshire Council, said: “Pl/2021/11914 was registered by the Council on January 14, 2022.

"All planning applications are determined on their own merits, and in accordance with all relevant planning policies, laws and guidance.”

To view the planning application in full, or to provide a comment, click here.

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