The proposed site for Pyestock
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Plans for a bakery fail to rise
By Stephen LloydMay 28, 2008
Controversial plans to build a bakery on land between Fleet and Farnborough have been shelved.
Property investment company Kenmore has confirmed that Warburtons is no longer interested in having a bakery on part of the Cody Technology Park on the border of Hart and Rushmoor.
The site is not far from the proposed massive warehouse development at Pyestock, which was unanimously refused by Hart District Council’s planning committee at a packed meeting in Aldershot’s Princes Hall in March.
News that Warburtons is no longer interested in the Cody Park site has delighted campaigners at SPLAT (Stop Pyestock bLot Act Today), who feared even more traffic on the already gridlocked roads.
SPLAT spokeswoman Shan Healey said: “The bakery would have been a 24/7 oper-ation with HGVs bringing in flour and vans going out in the early hours of the morning delivering the bread.
“In combination with the Pyestock operation, or even alone, it would have ruined the quality of life for people living in the area.
“Both organisations want to have the bulk of their traffic movements between 2am and 5am — is that reasonable?”
Mrs Healey pointed out that there is already serious con-gestion around junction 4a of the M3 at peak times and that the Pyestock and Cody Park sites are in the strategic gap between Fleet and Farnborough.
She added: “We feel that it is particularly scenic driving along the new Ively Road at the moment and is part of our rural heritage.
“We are delighted that a bakery will not be included within the strategic gap, which should be preserved.
“However, six-storey high buildings are planned for the Pyestock side of the road so the visual amenity will be severely compromised.”
However, Kenmore is still pushing ahead with plans for a hi-tech data centre.
The 69,940sq ft four-storey building will house computing equipment and supporting cooling plant.
There will also be an outdoor compound housing emergency back-up generators and an electrical substation.
Mrs Healey said SPLAT had no problem with the data centre, provided it was suitably landscaped.
Hart councillor Tim Davies is also delighted that Warburtons has pulled out.
He said: “It was not wanted here — it was plastic bread for plastic people.
“I don’t want the type of developments that would generate such traffic movements in this area — it’s the wrong place. However, I’m perfectly happy with the data centre as it will employ the sort of highly skilled individuals that we have in the area.”
Rushmoor Borough Council leader Cllr Peter Moyle, who represents the west Farnbor-ough ward of St John’s, said that while the Cody Park site had been earmarked for employment use, careful consideration should be taken to consider the impact on the wider community.
“There is no doubt it is suitable for employment use, but certainly not on the scale that has been proposed,” he added. “I would be looking for something that takes into account the local area, the local environment and the effect on transport.
“Anything that is proposed on that site needs to satisfy all those criteria before we would find it acceptable.”
Cllr Moyle said people were worried that further development of the Cody Technology Park site and Pyestock could have a detrimental impact on the quality of life for people in west Farnborough.
He added that campaigners against the Pyestock ware-house plan needed to keep aware of developments before the expected public inquiry is announced.
“This is an ongoing threat, and just because a date hasn’t been set we have to be more wary in our approach to fighting it,” the Tory said.
Martin Tennant, who represents the Cove and Southwood ward on Rushmoor Borough Council, welcomed news that Warburtons is no longer interested in the Cody Park site.
He said there was serious concern among people in Farnborough, who were worr-ied about the impact large new developments in the Pyestock area would have on the roads around Southwood and Cove.
“I am aware that there is a feeling that there has been an over-development in the area around Southwood,” the Conservative said.
“It does concern me because we already face severe traffic congestion in Ively Road, and I will be keeping a close eye on this situation.”
Kenmore had planned to build a single-storey bakery of 192,604sq ft, containing plant and process equipment, with an ancillary two-storey 19,906sq ft office block.
But a spokesman confirmed: “Kenmore Land Farnborough has announced that it will no longer be seeking planning permission for a bakery on the Cody Park site, following a decision by Warburtons to put their plans in the area on hold.
“Kenmore is in discussions with other potential occupiers for the site. It is intended that the data centre will remain, with an alternative use being sought for the adjacent land.
“Kenmore is committed to the redevelopment of the Fleet site and is seeking develop-ment solutions that remain sympathetic to local planning issues. Dialogue between Kenmore, elected representatives and local residents will continue to inform the design and progress of the scheme.”
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