Councillors have approved Kennedy Wilson’s plans to replace 150,000 sq ft of offices with a 146,000 sq ft industrial building in Farnborough.
The proposals, submitted by Pegasus, mean demolition of three office buildings at Southwood Business Park for an industrial building with use classes E(g)(iii) (admin office/R&D/clean industrial processes), B2 (general industrial) and B8 (storage and distribution).
The three buildings in Columbus Drive have been partially empty since 2001. Their last use was as a data centre.
James Hicks, senior director for Pegasus, told the June 7 meeting of Rushmoor Borough Council’s development management committee: “The reality is the demand for offices is unfortunately not what it previously was.
“In contrast, the demand for flexible employment space for manufacturing and warehousing has seen a resurgence in the UK following the pandemic and the UK’s exit from the EU.
“Industry is now returning to the UK and on the basis of a period of under provision historically, the demand now outstrips the supply locally and provides an opportunity for economic growth and job creation, consistent with local and national policy objectives.”
The scheme means the loss of 695 parking spaces and their replacement with 130 plus 20 cycle spaces.
Image: Google.
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