COMMERCIAL agents Hollis Hockley have slammed the council’s new local plan for focusing “too much” on residential housing.

Andrew Newman, a partner at Hollis Hockley, has told Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council that by adopting plans to build 850 homes in the borough per year until 2029 “employers will be forced to consider relocation from Basingstoke”.

BDBC adopted the new local plan after it was voted through by councillors at a full council meeting last month. 

Mr Newman believes that by focusing on using land in the borough for residential purposes, it will cause more problems for businesses. 

He said: “The council have failed to recognise the ongoing need for more commercial land to be allocated to the local plan to accommodate continued demand and growth from local and regional companies for industrial and warehousing space.

“The overriding emphasis on residential begs the question of where new occupants will work and will lead to migration of jobs.”

Mr Newman continued to explain that businesses would relocate due to an “inability to secure suitable premises within the town” and that sites such as the former Lilly site in Kingsclere Road “should never have been allowed to go residential”.

BDBC’s cabinet member for planning and infrastructure, Cllr Mark Ruffell, defended the new plan and said: “The newly adopted Local Plan for the borough, found sound by the Planning Inspector, includes policies that focus on inward investment and also support businesses already here to grow. 

“Meeting the demands of the economy in the borough changes frequently. 

“That is why, as outlined in the Local Plan, we will be starting work to establish the demand for new employment space, including storage and distribution outlets, in the borough and how that can best be met. 

“This needs to be balanced with supporting other diverse employment needs and also providing much needed housing for the area.”

What do you think? Please email your views to newsdesk@basingstokegazette.co.uk.