BRAMSHOTT and Liphook Parish Council has strongly objected to an application to redevelop Passfield Business Park and build 69 new residential units.

A large number of residents attended last Monday’s planning meeting, voicing their own objections as well as pointing out existing safety issues at the junction of Lynchborough and Passfield Road, a well known accident black spot.

Councillors felt there was significant traffic congestion along Headley Road – therefore the cumulative effect of traffic travelling towards Liphook along Headley Road, if the site is converted into a large residential development, was unacceptable.

Roger Hutton, the agent acting for the owner of Passfield Business Centre, told The Herald the centre was originally built as a research laboratory in the 1950s and converted to office and industrial use when the laboratory was no longer needed.

He explained it was built using asbestos as the main insulating material at a time when its danger to human health was not known.

The presence of the dangerous substance has meant only cosmetic rather than major repairs have been possible.

He claimed as a result the centre had deteriorated to a point where it was now beyond economic repair.

Mr Hutton added: “If the plans are approved the applicant will not only rebuild the business centre to be in a more appropriate location in Bordon, but will also provide an additional 100,000 square feet of space for other businesses who would like to set up in the town – as well as creating new employment opportunities in the town.

“The owners of the centre anticipate investing a total of around £17million in employment to help support the planned future growth of the town.”

The application is made alongside the proposed development of employment space at Louisburg Barracks, in Bordon, which is expected to be submitted shortly by the Whitehill Bordon Regeneration Company (WBRC).

The Passfield Business Centre owner stated if the two applications were approved, the delivery of the new commercial space within the Enterprise Zone at LBN would be linked by a legal agreement to the residential redevelopment at the business centre..

He further claimed the two aplications, taken together, represented a significant proposed investment of more than £40million in the district in both employment generating development and new housing.

In 2016, proposals for 48 residential units, a community hall and open space area were turned down by East Hampshire District Council’s planning committee, which will make its decision within the next few months.