OCADO is set to make good on its promise to remain committed to Andover after permission was granted to build a new state-of-the-art facility in the town.

Almost a year to the day since a fire tore through the online retailer’s Andover warehouse, the borough council approved a planning application to redevelop its Flinders Close site.

Previous plans had enabled Ocado to set up temporary facilities at the site, allowing it to continue running “day-to-day operations” in the town.

But now bosses are looking forward to building a “new, high quality, modern” development.

The approved scheme includes a new logistics facility together with offices, a multi-storey car park, associated service yards and roads and supporting ancillary equipment and buildings.

Plans submitted within the proposal note that the new Andover site will “most likely” serve local Ocado customers whilst supporting ‘spoke’ sites across the region.

It is also noted that the retailer operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and that goods are expected to be received into the building throughout this period.

The new facility is expected to employ around 1,700 people once it returns to full capacity.

Documents also outline plans for an updated fire strategy, as well as the installation of an additional sprinkler tank.

The design and access statement adds: “The development has undergone an extensive fire safety review following the events earlier this year, where an internal fire incident resulted in partial damage to the main CFC storage unit.

“Ocado have engaged a fire safety specialist to undertake a full review of all safety features within the site, including computer simulated fire modelling (CFD) to determine how a repeat event could be dealt with and swiftly extinguished.

“As well as ensuring satisfactory life safety results, the CFD process also ensures all installed fire safety measures are considered and their results monitored to demonstrate and prove that any fire can be suitably dealt with and the property is protected as much as possible.

“Furthermore, Ocado have also deployed further internal safety measures and checks to ensure the internal fit-out has mitigated all risks where possible.”