Campaigners fighting to prevent a huge warehouse development from being built between Fleet and Farnborough have been dealt a new blow.

The Government’s latest changes to the South East Plan – a 20-year planning document for the region – have seen the removal of any reference to “strategic gaps”.

Strategic gaps are used by local authorities to separate communities so that there remains a distinction between two places.

A “strategic gap” exists between Reading and Wokingham, for example, and planners have fought to prevent developments that would link the two places.

Campaigners fighting the megadepot at Pyestock – a site which used to house MoD engineers – argued that warehouses would completely wipe out the “strategic gap” between Fleet and Farnborough, and Hart councillors agreed. It was one of the reasons listed for refusing PRUPIM and Astral’s application when it was considered by the council in March.

Stop Pyestock bLot Act Today (SPLAT) campaigner Bob Schofield said the news wasn’t as bad as it appeared.

He said it appeared to be more of a change of terminology, rather than a huge shift in policy.

“This means that the local planning authorities have to more carefully craft their Local Development Frameworks no longer to include the words ‘strategic gap’ but more proactively designate what type of development will be permitted within a certain type of landscape,” he said.

He added: “These comments by the secretary of state are open to yet further consultation so the debate could go on.

“It should not be taken as read that forms of urban separation cannot be retained, they just need to be considered in different ways and new criteria applied to them.”

SPLAT is continuing to fundraise to hire legal representation for the public inquiry, due to begin in November, which will decide whether the warehouses can be built.

In a joint statement, James Arbuthnot, MP for North East Hampshire, and Gerald Howarth, MP for Aldershot, said they are supporting the fundraising efforts.

SPLAT have raised over £15,000 so far to support their campaign against the development, but estimate that another £10,000 is needed before the inquiry.

The statement from the MPs said: “Everyone involved with SPLAT has fought an excellent campaign on a shoestring of a budget; but now they really need to raise some extra funds to be able to afford some professional help.   

“The services of a top QC don’t come cheap and everyone is digging deep into their pockets to help ensure that SPLAT are able to put up the best case possible.

“Just last week Blackwater and Hawley Town Council pledged £500 towards the fighting fund and every day more cheques from concerned local residents roll into the SPLAT office. We’ve all got to do what we can, and every little helps.”