'Tesco town' warehouse plan (From Andover Advertiser)

'Tesco town' warehouse plan

7:46am Friday 23rd February 2007 in News By Steve Dancey

A MAMMOTH Tesco warehouse and distribution centre proposed on the western edge of Andover could bring as many as 1,200 extra jobs to the town - but would totally transform the nature of the surrounding area.

The proposal, outlined by developers Rosemound, is in its early stages. But if it goes ahead it would see one of Europe's largest buildings erected on a large part of the former Andover Airfield - an area already scheduled for industrial development in the local plan.

The new building, around a third of a mile long (1,900ft) and large enough to house five football pitches, would dwarf the nearby DLO buildings and resemble a similar 750,000 sq ft development built for Tesco at Drift, near Daventry in Northamptonshire.

Local MP Sir George Young attended a public meeting in Abbotts Ann when the company revealed its proposals.

"My view is that this proposal has come from nowhere and has caught people on the hop," said the MP.

"The planning application is about to be submitted and Test Valley Borough Council will need to respond in a few weeks.

"The Achilles' heel of the proposal could be the transport links to the site.

"Roads to the south through Monxton are already congested and not built to cope with more traffic.

"I will be asking the Highways Agency, which is responsible for the A303, whether it is satisfied with what is proposed and county councillors Pat West and David Kirk want to know what has been said on their behalf by the county council," said Sir George.

Concerned villagers who formed an Airport Group some time ago have been shocked at news of the proposal.

Monxton councillor Mrs Katrina Saville, said: "We knew there were plans for light warehousing and a hotel in this area but we didn't expect anything so huge.

"It seems mad to build on what is green fields when there are hundred of thousands of square feet of industrial space available on industrial estates on the other side of town much closer to where the town's new houses will be built."

A Test Valley Borough Council spokeswoman said: "We have been involved in some pre-submission discussions with Tesco, but until a planning application is submitted we will not be in a position to make any comment."

Rosemound Developments expect that the Andover Airfield site, which will have a hotel and other users as well as Tesco, could accommodate in excess of 2,000 new jobs.

"Rosemound Developments Ltd are working closely with the Highways Agency, Hampshire County Council and Test Valley Borough Council to ensure the access to the site from the A303 is improved in an appropriate manner," the company said in a statement. "The company is also developing detailed traffic management proposals to ensure HGV movements would not affect the residents of Monxton and the other nearby villages."

zMeanwhile, villagers from Weyhill, Monxton, Abbotts Ann and Amport are determined to present a united opposition to the Tesco warehouse plan.

On Tuesday around 100 people gathered in Red Post Lane, adjacent to the site, to give the scheme a giant thumbs down. "It shows how strong feeling is running in the area," said Mrs Saville, who organised the protest.