CONTROVERSIAL plans for another warehouse in Bicester were this week approved.

Details of the latest warehouse scheme on the A41 were waved through by Cherwell District Council on Thursday.

Outline approval was given in 2016, but nearby residents who feared changes to those original plans would be harmful to area urged councillors to reject the plans.

One concern among the letters of objection was the increased height of the building from 15.5m tall to 18m.

Carole Hetherington of Langford Village Community Association wrote: “The LVCA are greatly concerned about this proposed change and object to the latest proposal seeking an increase in building height of 2.5 metres.

“This directly contradicts the conditions of the granted outline planning permission.”

Mrs Hetherington also warned the plans appeared to have exceeded the agreed outline permission by 3,875sq ft.

She added: “Both these new proposed changes would greatly add to the visual impact of Unit B (the warehouse) due to the increased height and reduction in the area of landscape screening. This will result in visual and landscape harm.”

Another resident, Jason Clements, said: “Bicester is designated for eco-town status and this development will be the first building that will greet visitors travelling to Bicester down the A41.

“It is hardly going to be a salubrious welcome.”

The original plans submitted by Warren Reid for multiple warehouses covering 675,000sq ft of farmland were approved in October 2016.

Two warehouses have since been built and sold to furniture company Bentley Designs and healthcare manufacturer Medline.

The application put before councillors on Thursday came from Db Symmetry (Bicester Reid) Ltd and sought permission for a warehouse as part of the overall Symmetry Park plans which are expected to include five warehouses off the A41.

When the site was originally approved, the district council said it would bring investment into the town and eventually 1,000 jobs.

It is a site that forms part of an area in the Local Plan set aside for creating jobs to support Bicester’s massive growth.

Developers submitted a report from estate agent Savills which said the increase in height would ‘future proof’ the development and make it more attractive to tenants.

After the plans were approved, councillors added that talks must be had with developers to ensure solar panels on the roof were considered during the build and that such steps are taken to mitigate the warehouses impact on the surrounding area.

For details, search 18/00098/F online at cherwell.gov.uk