Our proposals

Our proposals will revitalise the site, creating a modern facility that complements and respects the character of the area and current use of the site.

Safestore’s initial plans proposed retaining the existing unoccupied industrial units (B2 use class) at the northwestern part of the site. Following close engagement with the community during consultation, we have revised our proposals to remove these units and create a landscaped parking area for Safestore employees – in line with our commitment to enhance biodiversity across the site.

Safestore’s proposals align with the council’s planning policy for the area which encourages development for employment / industrial uses on Goldsworth Road Industrial Estate. Importantly, self-storage is a low-intensity industrial use which generally has limited impact on the surrounding area - our sites are low traffic generators and our buildings are relatively simple to construct.

Design approach, materials and landscaping

The building reflects and responds to the character and height of surrounding buildings on Goldsworth Road, including nearby residential properties.

The building has been designed to minimise any impact on views from nearby properties. Compared to the buildings currently on-site, the facility is set further back from Goldsworth Road, with the top storey on the western boundary also set further back to limit its height in areas closest to neighbouring properties Following feedback at consultation, Safestore will remove the unoccupied industrial units to the northwest of the site, and replace them with a landscaped car parking area accessible to Safestore employees Proposed materials include brick, aluminium, and glass The design features ‘picture windows’ which show the fronts of storage units, showcasing the building’s self-storage purpose A ‘green buffer’ of trees will be planted around the site, enhancing biodiversity and providing screening for properties on the northeast and west of the site. The development will enhance biodiversity on site, and will ensure that the wooded corridor north of the site along the Basingstoke Canal is protected

Sustainability

The building has been designed to be highly sustainable with Safestore targeting a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’ and an EPC A+ certification. The store will also be Net Zero in operation.

Our construction team follows sustainable construction principles and, wherever practicable, we use materials that have recycled content or are from sustainable sources.

This, along with further plans to improve biodiversity through new landscaping across the site, shows our commitment to sustainable practices.

Transport parking and access

Safestore facilities have the benefit of generating very little traffic, and we plan to provide sufficient customer parking spaces, to prevent customers from using neighbouring roads for parking.

The site will have a dedicated entrance located on Goldsworth Road.

A previous planning application to redevelop the industrial estate was approved in 2024, and we are aware some local people were concerned then about the traffic impact on neighbouring roads due to concerns about industrial vehicles using a proposed access point on Mabel Street.

The entry point at Mabel Street will need to be retained to allow for occasional maintenance of the substation on-site. There will be a small amount of car parking accessed via this entrance that will only be used by employees, which is in addition to the car parking spaces to the east of the site.

Safestore customers will not be permitted to use the Mabel Street access.