Anxious householders in a recent Witney development are taking a stand against a planning application that could bring a giant warehouse 14 metres from one residents home with trucks coming and going at all times of night.

Windrush Place residents are urging their local councillors to refuse plans for four warehouses to extend Tungsten Park on Downs Road that, they say, if built would ruin the look and feel of the area.

Some 188 letters of objection, as well as objections from Witney Town Council, have so far been lodged on the WODC planning portal.

Outline planning permission was given for the site in 2017 as part of the wider Windrush Place development.

Residents say that as part of that outline scheme, the site was earmarked for office use, as a strip of land between the industrial/warehousing uses on the wider site to the north and the residential uses on the wider site to the south.

"This latest application ignores these principles, with giant warehouses set to be built just feet from homes," said David Edwards-Hughes - who only bought his house in January - and has led the campaign to stop the development proposed by Carbide Properties and NFU Mutual Insurance Society Ltd.

“Unit 9 is 14 metres to our property – not our back fence, our actual house. Would I have bought the property if this plan goes ahead? Absolutely not. It’s all been incredibly stressful.”

Residents are also concerned about the noise as the application includes use of HGVs 24 hours a day.

David said: "The developers own noise survey points to an 'adverse impact' on local properties. I think it's also important to note that the background noise measurement was taken over a weekend which had heavy snowfall in January 2021. The snow would have meant that normal activities were not taking place, and any sounds made would have been softened by the snow.

"The survey was also conducted prior to phases one and two of the employment zone being occupied so does not account for the additional noise generated from these activities."

Witney Town Council objects saying in terms of scale, use and visual impact it “bears no resemblance to the scheme as was approved in the outline planning permission”.

They add that it is “completely unacceptable for our residents, in particular residents of the new development”.

Cllr Jane Doughty, whose Witney West ward covers the site, said: “It is extremely important that we encourage businesses to invest in West Oxfordshire and Witney .

“However, I am concerned that the planning application submitted does not adhere to outline planning proposals.

“Original plans suggested that there would be several office buildings - these would act as a nice buffer between industry on the site and residential properties.

“However, these new plans are totally unacceptable and completely overbearing. Residents have purchased their homes knowing that this employment zone will exist but these proposals really are not in keeping with the original plans.

“There is highly likely to be an increase in noise and light pollution, as well as potential as well the potential for very nasty odours too. Therefore I must object to this application due to the negative effects this will have on my residents.”

Residents also argue that the "proposed grey metal cladded warehouses would tower over the Cotswold stone properties which are directly adjacent."

"This would ruin the look and feel of the area. This is a peaceful area to live which would be ruined both visually and practically."

A planning statement on behalf of the applicant says the site “benefits from outline planning consent for mixed use employment development”.

"The proposal is accompanied by robust technical reports which demonstrate that there are no adverse impacts arising from the development and any impacts are appropriately mitigated.

"The proposed development is in accordance with the policies contained within the West Oxfordshire Local Plan and amounts to sustainable development in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework (2019) and should be approved without delay."

The application reference 21/02364/FUL will be considered at the WODC lowlands area planning sub-committee meeting on Monday.

 

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