Four industrial units at *Land to the South of Sunrise Way, Amesbury

“Sunrise Way, landscaping, parking and associated facilities. Units 1-11 were consented under 19/01733/OUT for Phase 1 and are built. The proposed layout shows 4 industrial type self-contained units, creating 12,851sq metres of floorspace for Use Classes E(g)(iii) light industry, B2 general industry and B8 storage or distribution.”

“The proposed development utilises the estate road constructed under the Phase 1 application 19/01736/FUL. New access points will be formed for units 12-14 and the road extended to access unit 15. The estate road leads to Sunrise Way, which subsequently connects to Meridian Way to the east and Porton Road to the west with both leading towards the A303.”

“Solstice Park employment area is situated to the south of the major arterial A303 road, on the north east edge of the Market Town of Amesbury. The Solstice Park area is allocated by WCS policy CP35 (Existing Employment Sites) as a Principal Employment Area and it has been developed to date with a range of B1 office - now Use Class E(g)(i), B2 general industrial and B8 storage & distribution uses, a hotel and a regional distribution centre.”

“There are several bus stops located within Solstice Park which provide access to Amesbury, Salisbury, and other surrounding areas. To the south of the site is an existing residential area. The Solstice Park employment area is located several metres lower than the residential area to the south due to the topography and as a result of the land profiling that took place to create the employment area.”

“Outline consent for Solstice Park S/1999/0721 – Approved Jan 2000 Outline planning permission was granted under S/1999/0721 for the ‘Comprehensive development of whole Solstice Park site for employment and leisure purposes within Use Classes B1, B, B8 and C1, together with roads, footpaths, cycleways, landscaping, sewers, alterations of ground levels and associated works.”

“Numerous consents have subsequently been granted for detailed proposals on various plots within Solstice Park. Salisbury District Local Plan 2003 and 2011 versions The employment policy designation for Solstice Park carried forward under Policy E8A of the Salisbury District Local Plan 2003 and later, 2011: E8 Employment development is proposed on the following sites in Amesbury:”

“At its meeting on Tuesday 5th August 2023 Amesbury Town Council re-assessed its original response to the application and wishes to object on the following grounds: • Noise during construction and hours of operation • Extra vehicle traffic along neighbouring roads • Dust pollution during construction • Potential 24/7 operation The Town Council requests that acoustic barriers are erected between the units and the mobile home park and that all forms of impact piling are…”

“Largest unit is far too close to Beverley Hills park, which consists of over a hundred semi/retired residents, many who are vulnerable to the potential dust, noise, odour and pollution from the construction and operation of a development of this size. • Loss of quiet place, excess noise day and night, excess noise • Would like no overnight operations. WHO Guidelines.”

“Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer. Details were sought on the potential impact of the proposed development on noise levels, with particular focus on whether the application would result in an increase in noise and the effectiveness of the proposed planning conditions.”

“A debate followed in which Members expressed a range of views on the proposal, with particular concern raised in relation to the impact on nearby residential properties. It was noted that the development would require a retaining wall and significant engineering works, which would be subject to a landscaping scheme.”

“The Chairman then invited a motion and after no motion was put forward, he moved the motion of approval in line with officer recommendation, to start the debate. This was seconded by Cllr Nick Baker.”

“At the close of debate, the Committee voted on the motion of approval. The motion was not carried.”

“Employment Area, and the proposal site has had previous outline consent for industrial uses, the Council has weighed the positive employment and economic benefits of the proposal against the significant concerns raised by residents, in relation to general noise and disturbance from the operational phase of the proposal, and the likely impacts of vibration disturbance to the adjacent properties during construction.”

“Having considered in detail the applicant’s submitted noise and vibration assessment information, it is considered that whilst the provision of the employment use would be likely to have positive economic benefits to the wider community, the submitted information does not fully explain the likely impacts on adjacent residential amenity in terms of the cumulative noise impacts of the proposal once operational, the likely impacts of vibration on amenity and the construction…”