THE construction of new commercial units at a business park in Wokingham is set to go ahead despite a raft of objections.
The plan will see three single-storey units built at Lambs Farm Business Park, in Spencers Wood, creating 340 square metres of extra employment space.
The applicant, J P Winkworth Ltd, a family-run development company specialising in industrial, warehouse and office parks – established the business park more than 20 years ago.
The site is located near junction 11 of the M4 motorway, and in the close vicinity of Lambs Lane Primary School.
It is also situated nearly four kilometers away from Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Burghfield, a nuclear weapons factory, and therefore within the new Detailed Emergency Planning Zone.
This means that Lambs Farm’s required response to an incident at AWE is to shelter within 25 minutes and remain indoors for 48 hours.
The business park currently has 29 units which are at 100% occupancy.
The new units will be situated in the south-eastern side of the existing confines of the business park with an eave height of five metres.
The application received 17 objections, including from the Parish Council, residents and business owners who rent other units on the park.
Swallowfield Parish Council objected to the plans claiming the site is “congested” and already has “inadequate parking.”
A spokesperson added: “Any additional units will increase the amount of traffic coming into the site with the challenges this presents to keeping children and their families safe at school.”
The occupiers of The Garage, a residential property on Back Lane, also feel the development will result in an “unsustainable increase in traffic.”
A planning officer from Wokingham Borough Council wrote on their behalf: “No assessment on the impact of environmental pollution nor the increase in traffic on neighbouring residents has been adequately addressed by the proposal.”
Other objections to the proposals were raised on grounds of damage to the environment, excessive noise levels and safety.
Resident Steph Meakin said: “To date I have been in contact with Environmental Health over the light and noise level from being situated opposite this business park. I find it hard to understand how he does not see our properties as being within the vicinity.”
Another resident, Anthony Young, claimed the site “is not in keeping with the general countryside appearance of the area” and that further development will “damage the precious ecosystem.”
David Spaneuro, tenant of Unit G at Lambs Farm, said the development will “impede our vehicle loading and access.”
Despite the objections, development at the site can now start.
