Commercial storage units at Units 2-6, Stockley Hollow Yard, Stockley Road, Stockley

The site and surroundings

The site is in open countryside within the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, accessed by a bridleway, with nearby homes and public footpaths.

“Under The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987, the following descriptions are provided for each use classes proposed: • Use Class B8 (Storage and Distribution) – use for storage or as a distribution centre; • Use Class E(g)(iii) (Commercial, Business and Service) – any industrial process which can be carried out in any residential area without detriment to the amenity of that area by reason of noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, soot, ash, dust or grit.”

“The access on Stockley Hollow covers part of an area identified to have risk of flooding from surface water of 1 in 1000 year extent. The site is in Flood Zone 1 and within a zone which has negligible risk from groundwater flooding. There are two neighbouring residential properties on the opposite (north) side of the Bridleway HEDD37A.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

Earlier applications for commercial or storage-related uses were withdrawn or refused, including a certificate application refused in January 2024.

“Proposal / Summary 19/11237/FUL - Change of use from agricultural buildings to B1 light industrial and storage use (Retrospective) – Withdrawn 20 January 2020 20/08538/CLE - Certificate of Lawfulness for the Existing Use of Former Agricultural Site as Storage and HGV Parking – Withdrawn 20 January 2022 PL/2023/07923 - Certificate of Lawfulness for the use of agricultural buildings for commercial use specifically B8/B2 – Refused 18 January 2024 5 Relevant planning…”

Officer report

Consultation and public views

Highways, rights of way and economic development consultees supported or raised no objection, while residents raised concerns about noise, privacy, traffic, landscape, ecology and flooding.

“Other Relevant Policies and Documents: • Wiltshire Local Transport Plan 2011-2026, adopted 2015 - including the Car Parking Strategy and Cycling Strategy, adopted 2015 6 Summary of consultation responses 6.1 The following is a summary of consultation responses. Comments in full are published online. WC Highways: No objection subject to conditions • Condition requiring pre-occupation implementation of visibility splays…”

“Objections • Loss of amenity due to noise impacts • Impact on privacy and overlooking • Impact on highways safety and parking • Impacts on rural character of the area, design • Impacts on protected landscape, visual amenity • Impacts on environment, air quality, water quality • Impacts on ecology of area • Flooding and drainage issues • Conflict of interest in supporters…”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector spoke against the application, two people spoke in support, and the local unitary division member asked the committee to consider deferral.

What members discussed

Members discussed the culvert, site use, use classes, parish council views, traffic, the earlier certificate application and external storage.

“- The need to protect the culvert to the northeast of the block. - Changes to site usage - The current usage remaining within the class uses - Lack of objection from Heddington Parish Council - No substantial increase in vehicular traffic - certificate of lawfulness - Condition 3 about no external storage and removal of storage containers…”

“The officer explained that the application related to the conversion of the building, with no proposals to increase the hardstanding, and the drainage consultant had reviewed the proposals and advised that there would not be an increased flood risk. In addition highways had confirmed that there would not be an increase in vehicle numbers in the vicinity.”

Minutes

Conditions of permission

Additional conditions require the five units to remain separate, remove three containers, control external lighting and restrict the units to specified uses.

“Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (or any order revoking and re-enacting that Order with or without modification) the five separate units as shown on the approved plan: Proposed Block Plan (dwg no: CC/BRO/UN 2-6 V2; received 9 December 2025) shall remain as five individual units and shall not at any time be amalgamated to create any larger individual unit/s.”

Minutes