Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust objection to the proposed warehouse development at Lodge Farm

A reminder of the strong support for rejecting the preapplication to the distribution centre at Lodge Farm. The questions raised have still not been answered by Obsidian….

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust manages Hook Common and Bartley Heath SSSI, as well as Bartley Heath SINC. The River Whitewater SINC passes within close proximity to the development, reaching two other Trust nature reserves, influenced by the environmental condition of the Whitewater (Warnborough Green & Greywell Fen). The lack of detail is unacceptable and renders the application unable to demonstrate any broad principle that the proposal will not have an adverse impact on designated wildlife sites and the local environment.

We are of the opinion that the applicant’s Ecological Constraints & Opportunities report, in conjunction with the Masterplan are both wholly insufficient. The report does not consider off-site impacts on neighbouring wildlife sites and species, or indeed the implication for management of the nature reserves. Recommendations for mitigation, as well as Biodiversity Net Gain are subjective and vague, while the Masterplan is completely absent of detail and arguably unfulfilling of the report’s recommendations. This includes an absence of detail on sustainable drainage.

Any further built severance of the important wildlife sites and landscape along this section of motorway corridor will add burden to the coherence of the ecological network and risks eroding the ability to manage the land for respective features of interest. The scale of built envelopment this proposal would exert should be fundamentally rethought.

With respect to drainage and the proximity to the River Whitewater, we would have serious concerns for increased discharge rates from this development into the Whitewater. This would be inclusive of large volumes of highway discharge containing vehicle hydrocarbons due to the significant level of traffic. This has implications for water quality at a catchment level. Despite the applicant’s flood risk assessment references to sustainable drainage, we do not consider that the application has demonstrated that the principles of sustainable drainage have been employed and more importantly that they will not prevent further deterioration of water quality in the Whitewater catchment.

In summary, the Trust considers this proposal to lack the information and clarity required to determine its appropriateness within the setting and currently in contravention of Hart District Council’s policies.