Plans to build a giant warehouse for Tesco to consolidate and distribute goods via thousands of LGV movements have come under fire from residents and MPs. The old Andover airfield site in Hampshire has been earmarked by developer Goodman for construction of a 1.4million ft2 business complex. It includes an 803,000ft2 distribution centre that it will lease to Tesco and could be built within nine months.
It will be the second largest Tesco warehouse after Livingston, West Lothian. But the supermarket admits that if Goodman gets permission it will close its Weybridge, Surrey distribution centre with the loss of 700 jobs. The Andover plans have also been criticised for putting too much strain on the road network in Hampshire, particularly the nearby A303. Tesco admits that the nearest junction is already running at 107% of its capacity, but Goodman says it will make improvements to ease congestion.
Local MP Sir George Young argues that the site should be used as a business 
park to help rebalance the local economy. He adds: "I believe that councillors can and should refuse the application when it comes before them. They have sufficient discretion to turn it down and future generations will be grateful if they do." Lobby group 'Stop the Megasheds' claims there will be nearly 1,700 lorry movements in and out of the depot each day, causing disruption to local residents.
However, Tesco says getting the traffic scheme right is "in everyone's interest". A spokeswoman says: "It doesn't make sense for us to propose a scheme that makes it difficult for local people, or our staff or drivers, to travel in the vicinity of the centre." She adds: "We always look for alternative roles for employees within Tesco and this would be no different if Weybridge was to closewe would offer relocation packages to all existing employees."
A spokesman for union Unite says: "What we were seeing a few months ago were plans by Tesco to close their current distribution depots in favour 
of new sites and in so doing re-writing contracts of employment. It's quite a thorny issue for us up in Livingston I don't think it has been fully resolved."