A BUILDER has appealed Test Valley Borough Council's refusal to grant permission to build a commercial development on a farmland that currently has permission for 180 homes.

The proposal to build three commercial buildings with associated access on land at Harewood Farm, in London Road, was rejected by the council in October last year.

The council's decision to block the project came because of three main concerns. Firstly, it believed the development would be out of place in the rural surroundings. Secondly, it was concerned about the potential negative impact on the landscape. Finally, it raised doubts regarding increased surface water runoff and potential traffic issues.

The applicant Matthew Raymond has now decided to appeal the order.

READ MORE: Plans for 180 homes given the go-ahead - six years after they were submitted

Existing commercial developments at Harewood FarmExisting commercial developments at Harewood Farm (Image: Pro Vision/Matthew Raymond)

Harewood Farm extends to approximately 67 hectares. It previously housed a poultry business and mushroom-growing enterprise, but they have now been replaced by commercial buildings.

The farm is home to around 25 businesses, but the site is currently designated as countryside within the adopted Local Plan.

To the west of the site, on part of the farm’s wider holding, an outline planning permission for the development of up to 180 residential units was given the go-ahead last year – six years after the application was submitted by Mr Raymond.

Mr Raymond was seeking permission since 2011 to build on the portion of land in London Road, Andover Down, with the current application being submitted to Test Valley Borough Council in 2017.

The scheme will be built in two phases – the first will be for 60 houses, along with roads, ancillary structures and landscaping, with access, appearance, layout, scale and landscaping reserved matters.

Phase two is for the remaining 120 dwellings, which is just outline planning permission and all matters reserved.

SEE ALSO: Plans revealed for logistics park on Harewood Farm, Andover

In 2015, outline planning permission for 180 homes was approved, before this, in 2013, 150 dwellings were approved on appeal.

While the appeal process for the commercial development is going on, Mr Raymond has also lodged a ‘request for screening opinion’ with Test Valley Borough Council to ask whether an Environmental Impact Assessment should be submitted for a future application.

The proposal is for up to 37,500 sqm of B8 (storage and distribution) use, together with drainage, parking and associated access, infrastructure, and landscaping.