Stop the 24 Hour Distribution Centre @ Lodge Farm!

Aim

Protect Hart's Heritage for Future Generations

Villages Oppose Warehouses (VOW) is a community interest company (CIC) formed by concerned Hart Residents. VOWs objective is to help those who wish to protect Hart's rural heritage, and maintain its unique ecosystem for future generations, by stopping the proposed development of a 24-hour warehouse distribution centre on 80 acres of productive agricultural land at Lodge Farm, North Warnborough.

In the coming weeks, the London based developer proposing this speculative development will produce a range of consultants to support their claims that destroying good farmland and desecrating a strong and diverse environment will be in Hart residents best interests.

We are asking you to contribute whatever you can so that we have funds to engage our own experts to combat the developers claims and fight to defend Hart's residents and countryside from…..

• >12,000+ extra vehicles, many HGVs, on Hart's roads 24 hours a day,  EVERY day
• Increased Air, Noise & Light pollution on all of Hart's roads
• Increased risk for Pedestrians & Cyclists
  
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• Increased Flood Risk to the surrounding areas, including the M3 
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• (Actual sign approx. 800yards from J5)
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• Ruination of the River Whitewater, a rare chalk stream that is already under threat 
• Destabilisation of a unique countryside ecosystem
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• Loss of 80 acres of productive agricultural land
• This is Development for Developments sake:
  • Purely speculative
  • Not part of the local plan
  • No Benefit for Hart Residents
  • Fails to comply with relevant policies 
    

Help us stop this desecration of your countryside and protect Hart's rural heritage for future generations by donating now!

Please Note: Funds not used in this campaign will be donated to the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. No donations can be refunded.

------------------------------- Want more details? Read Our Story ---------------------------------

In 2022 a London based development company, announced speculative plans to build a 24hour distribution centre on 80 acres of land at Lodge Farm, North Warnborough. Despite a negative reception from Hart councils planning department, the parish council and nearly all residents, it has now said it will be submitting an updated planning application to Hart District Council in Q1/2024. 

Their application will be to build 5 warehouses covering more than 100,000 sq mts and over 20 metres high.  5 enormous buildings, on a site the equivalent of 41.5 football pitches, with walls more than 4 times the height of the average UK prison. Replacing what is currently highly productive agricultural land. 

The impact of this distribution centre will be:

• An astronomical increase in traffic volume across Hart and NE Hampshire roads : according to the developers’ own figures, more than 12,000 extra vehicles, including many HGVs, on Hart's roads 24 hours a day, EVERY day.
• The loss of 80 acres of usable agricultural land: currently being used productively to supply potatoes and corn to the UK market.
• Increased flood risk: The site will cause dangerous flooding risk on the M3 and across the flood plain on which it would sit. 
• Loss of ecological stability: Bartley Heath, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and part of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, is adjacent to the proposed development. The only entry and exit for wildlife south of the M3 is Lodge Farm so the proposed development would effectively entomb the south side of Bartley Heath and the wildlife within it.
• Permanent ruination of the River Whitewater: The developer’s pre-application shows that surface water run-off from the development will go into the River Whitewater, one of only 260 chalk streams in the world, which is already failing to meet Good Ecological Status
• Increased Risk to Pedestrians & Cyclists: Increases in traffic, disruption of footpaths and increased flood risk will create potential hazards, particularly for children travelling to Robert Mays School.
• Years, of disruption, delays and increased pollution across Hart: caused by the major changes that will be required to J5 of the M3 and the A287 access road to accommodate the additional traffic movements generated by the development.

Help us to stop this desecration of Hart's rural heritage by donating now!

Please Note: Donations cannot be refunded. Any funds remaining from this campaign will be gifted to the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. 

The Trust works with other organisations, local landowners and the local community to inspire people and bring about change in order to protect and connect wildlife sites across the county and inspire local communities and young people to care for wildlife where they live. 

This project successfully funded on 10th April 2024