A PROPOSAL for a huge new distribution warehouse could result in an area of green land in Andover being lost.

Plans involving a collaboration between Test Valley Borough Council and Kier Property Developments Ltd would see the development of an eastern extension to Walworth Business Park.

The proposal comprises of up to 45,300square metre floorspace for general industrial, storage and distribution use.

Development of ‘Plot 90’ is part of the council’s Local Plan of a “wider programme of investment and rejuvenation at the Walworth Business Park”.

The industrial estate is Andover’s largest employment estate, with approximately 7,500 people who work there.

The report explained that there was a need to cater to companies with larger building requirements.

Of the extension, the Local Plan states: “Development would need to have regard to Picket Piece as well as the setting of the eastern approaches to Andover.”

Currently, the 11 hectares of land that the site will sit on is used as Walworth Sports Ground and as agricultural land.

The sports pitches will be moved over to Picket Twenty which are already being developed.

The Local Plan adds: “Walworth Road is set in an attractive green corridor which should be complemented by the proposal.”

Residents are already been up in arms over plans to convert a 50,000 state-of-the-art warehouse within the industrial estate into an incinerator.

However, as the expansion is in the borough council’s Local Plan this means objections can only be raised to certain aspects of the proposal and not to the whole plan itself.

Andover Town Council’s planning committee met on Monday night where they discussed the emerging proposal.

The committee raised three main issues with the plan concerning noise mitigation, an access road and the height of the units.

Councillor Barbara Long said: “It’s 60 feet from residential units.”