By Noni Needs, Local Democracy Reporting Service

There are fears drivers could be put at risk if plans for a drive-thru, bakery and coffee shop in Petersfield are given the green light.

The project known as Gentian Park will see an industrial unit and drive-thru build if plans are given the green light on land south of Buckmore Farm, off Winchester Road and A3 between Portsmouth and London.

The scheme has been submitted to South Downs National Park Authority for approval.

The scheme includes a retail unit subdivided into a bakery and coffee drive-thru, an industrial building and associated engineering works, landscaping and development.

Fast food chain KFC has previously made it clear it wants to open a restaurant in Petersfield and has been looking for a site for years, though the application states the drive-thru would be for a coffee business.

The site which received outline planning in 2013 is next to a BP motorway service with an M&S, a drive-thru McDonald’s, Premier Inn and a Beefeater restaurant. To the east the site is bounded by the established residential 1980s estate of Stoneham Park and further west is the A3 corridor and urban edge of Petersfield, with open countryside beyond. 

The 1,380 square metre linear industrial-style building will be broken up using timber on the outside, with a series of flat roofs and parapets including solar panels, and sections of green roofs similar in design to a new development at North Buckmore.

Hampshire Highways has objected to the scheme saying it does not yet know enough to be sure the proposed access would not result in detriment to road user safety.

The team said it cannot tell if the retail element of the plans can be accommodated in a manner that ‘would not cause increased danger and inconvenience’.

There are concerns over increased queuing traffic lengths on the services access road, its impact and visibility in and out of the petrol station. 

Ginnie Rutter of Petersfield Town Council has objected because it is not part of Petersfield Neighbourhood Plan Policy.

She said plans failed to protect the residential amenity of the nearby homes or respect the character of the listed building.”

Anthony Allen from conservation charity Petersfield Society objected on several grounds including disposal of surface water-run off into the nearby, already overburdened stream and said: “It is the wrong place for a retail park.“

The planning consultation period for comments finishes on April 16 on planning application SDNP/24/00612/FUL.