A FORMER motocross track near Winchester is set to be converted into an excavation waste facility with a capacity of 75,000 tonnes a year.

Hampshire County Council officers have recommended councillors approve the change of use from a motocross site at Down Farm into a construction, demolition, excavation (CDE) waste recycling and aggregate processing facility.

The plan, put forward by applicant G.K. Benford and Co, will see road planings for crushing and screening imported and stored to create recycled aggregate, as well as a new silo for concrete batching.

The site, in Down Farm Lane, occupies a motocross track, Winchester Golf Academy, pony club, dog kennels and training, and day-to-day agricultural activities.

Planning permission was granted in 2004 for a temporary five-year change of use from agriculture to a motocross track, and permanent permission was granted in 2011.

The application proposed that the CDE waste recycling and aggregate production activities take place on the former motocross track.

The site would be separated into three separate plots.

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Plot A would be a recycled waste inert soils and concrete, plot B would be a storage and operations site for an off-site concrete manufacturing business, and plot C would be a road planing storage and recycling facility.

Plot A, currently occupied by Pringle Reclaim Limited – a company specialising in treating construction waste – received an environmental permit in July 2022 that allowed it to treat 75,000 tonnes annually of waste to produce soil aggregates and substitutes.

Anticipated vehicle movements associated with the Pringle operation are estimated to be 42 lorries daily, Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm, and Saturdays, 7am to midday.

The central part, plot B, will be occupied by Hilcon, a family-run business that stores aggregates and materials for concrete batching.

Site layout (Image: HCC)

It is estimated that 72 lorries make daily trips for the Hilcon operation, Monday to Friday from 7am to 4pm and Saturdays from 7am to midday.

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RPS, which provides highway maintenance support across the county, will occupy the eastern part of the site, plot C.

A total of 19 representations were received. Among them, there were 18 objections, and one in support.

Catherine Hawkins objected, saying the development would generate traffic, dust and pollution.

Mrs Hawkins said: “The site of the above application is on a small roundabout that leads up to South Wonston and Sutton Scotney. It is currently being used by lorries on a temporary basis. But this has demonstrated that large lorries and that roundabout do not work. They frequently pull out in front of traffic due to a blind bend leading to the roundabout, they also stop when entering the site, which can cause a backup of traffic onto the roundabout.”

Another resident, Paul Williams, also said that the site already has lorry traffic, and the application will increase it even more, affecting “greatly” those living next to the site.

On behalf of Cycle Winchester, Andy Key said that the plan would impact active travel in the area, increase traffic and detriment cycle traffic, especially on Christmas Hill.

Littleton and Harestock and Crawley parish councils also objected and raised concerns over the impact on the local road network.

The final decision is due to be made next Wednesday (July 17) at the county council regulatory committee in Winchester.