Walker Logistics refused permission for night lighting plans at Membury

PLANNERS have rejected proposals for a night-time lighting strategy at a major Membury development.

Residents had claimed the scheme would contribute to light pollution and harm wildlife.

In 2021, Walker Logistics won permission for a 40ft-high warehouse the size of two Wembley football pitches to be built in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The decision came despite "unprecedented local opposition", according to district councillor Howard Woollaston (Con, Lambourn) and some concern from West Berkshire Council’s own highways officers.

However, planners have rejected the latest bid to discharge lighting conditions.

Several residents objected and a typical letter stated: "There are numerous lights at the front of the building; many of these are floodlights which will not be turned off at night.

"Given that the building is now longer and does not sit within the landscape as it did when the outline was first presented, coupled with the fact that the impact is now much greater as the building is more visible from the road (with the wider entrance), we believe that this building will contribute to destroying the night skies within the AONB.

"The lights impacting on the night skies will be visible to residents."

Despite the current application having been revised following consultation with planners, a West Berkshire Council ecology officer expressed concerns and a planning officer's report stated: "[The condition] was imposed to ensure the conservation and enhancement of the biodiversity assets of the site; to conserve the dark night skies of the North Wessex Downs AONB and in the interests of the amenity of nearby residential occupants.

"The external lighting that is proposed is unacceptable due to the impact on biodiversity, particularly during pre-curfew hours."

However, the ecology report also stated: "Currently the proposals are not acceptable but could be made acceptable easily with the addition of cowls the lighting columns.

"The only reason we can think of that the applicants team wouldn’t have recommend them from the outset is the additional materials cost of the cowls."