Giant warehouse proposal rejected

The developers said they were not abandoning their proposals

Controversial plans to build a huge warehouse complex in Hampshire have been rejected by a council.

Developers Astral and Prupim wanted to build what would have been one of the south's largest warehouses at Pyestock, between Fleet and Farnborough.

The building was due to be the same size as the Millennium Dome, even after being scaled down following complaints.

At a packed public meeting on Wednesday evening, Hart District Council's planning committee rejected the plans.

At one time the now-derelict former military site was used to test and develop Concorde's engines.

The developers want to turn the site, a short distance from the M3 motorway, into a distribution site operating 24 hours a day.

Public inquiry

People who live nearby said they would experience noise, pollution, sleep deprivation and their quality of life would be seriously compromised.

Bob Schofield, who campaigned against the plans, said: "It was the best result we could have hoped for.

"We were hoping we would get probably four or five grounds for objection but to end up getting eight is just a fantastic result and shows you that this is the wrong development for this site."

The developers are now pinning their hopes on a public inquiry into the proposals, which is due later in the year.

Chris Perkins, of Prupim, said: "We're not abandoning the plan and the proposals that we have, we believe, in the long run are the right answer for the area."