LOCAL planning group Hook Action Against Over-Development has issued a warning over the possible implications of new plans submitted to Hart District Council.

Developers Bell Cornwell submitted the plans in June and in the two months that have followed, there have been plenty of residential objections to go alongside those of the local campaign group.

The plans are focusing on the Bartley Wood Business Park in Hook, where one development is already under way on a vacant office block.

HAAOD says that despite no permission being needed for the conversion of the empty office space due to government legislation, it raised concerns at the time over the loss of parking to the surrounding, and in use office buildings in the business park.

It said in an online statement: “The site had been used as overflow parking for some years and even with this parking there is huge pressure on parking across the whole business park.

“Losing these spaces would lead to parking in residential roads near the business park. But these were not grounds for resisting the conversion.”

However. it is the latest application made during the summer which has raised fresh concerns for both the group and local residents.

Developers are looking to build on empty space surrounding the office block. With well over 150 car parking spaces on the plot, and only 100 or so needed to support the plans to convert the office spaces, developer Bell Cornwell is now looking to make use of land which is home to spare car parking space.

The plans propose the erection of two new blocks of flats on the space which would offer a further 101 apartments, 38 one-bedroom and 63 two-bedroom, as well as some small commercial space below one of them.

The installation of bin stores, cycle stores, parking and landscaping of the area are also part of the scheme.

On the latest plans, Dermot Smith of HAAOD said: “It cannot be overstated how much this development could influence the future of Hook.

“The developer is using the principle of the automatically permitted office conversion to flats as justification for use of the whole site for residential use.

“A conservative estimate based on the density proposed for this plot would indicate that a domino effect through the ‘newer’ business park area could lead to 2,000 plus apartments between the railway bridge over Griffin Way South and the BMW/Mini showroom.”

As with all new developments, there also calls for the new homes to be affordable, with the younger residents and families often getting frozen out of the local property market.

The local group added: “As is the case elsewhere, affordable housing is needed in Hook, though the selling price of the first apartments on this site could barely be described as such with one-bedroom apartments listed at more than a quarter of a million pounds.

“Flats do play a useful role in a varied and balanced local housing stock and the Landata House development has yet to take place plus Bartley House next door to it is also proposed for conversion to flats so there will be plenty forthcoming.

“But if this new development is waved through then Hook could change beyond all recognition in a very short time with high-density housing becoming preeminent in Hook.”

Hook Parish Council also submitted its objection to the application, stating: “Members question the viability of the market for further flats in Hook given the number of permissions already granted and in particular in this less desirable location on the business park.

“Members agreed that Hook Parish Council will not reserve SANG for this application.”

The objections to the site from local residents also sung from a similar hymn sheet.

One wrote: “The location is inappropriate for high-density residential development.

“Permission would set a dangerous precedent turning Hook into a sprawling mass of featureless blocks of flats of similar density to far more urban locations such as Basingstoke or Reading.

“This is not right for semi-rural Hook.”

Another resident added: “It beggars belief that a one bed flat at a quarter of a million pounds is referred to as affordable housing.

“It merely reflects greed on behalf of the developer who is not interested in the detrimental effect it would have on the village. The infrastructure could not cope with this dense housing proposal.”

No comment was given by Bell Cornwell when we contacted for an update on the proposals.

The full plans can be viewed at publicaccess.hart.gov.uk/online-applications/ then searching case reference number 16/01574/FUL.