A DECISION on controversial plans to build yet more warehouses in Bicester will go before councillors today.

Details of the latest warehouse set to be built along the A41 will be put to Cherwell District Council this afternoon.

Outline approval was given for the warehouse in 2016, but residents fear changes to the original plans could be harmful to area.

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

Carole Hetherington of Langford Village Community Association said: "The LVCA are greatly concerned about this proposed change and therefore 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 that the new plans appeared to have exceeded the agreed outline planning permission by 3,875 sq 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, added: "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 to the town."

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

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

The application going before councillors today comes from a new company – Db Symmetry (Bicester Reid) Ltd – and seeks permission for another warehouse as part of the overall Symmetry Park plans which are expected to eventually 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.

Town councillor Nicholas Mawer, who also commented on the proposals, said: "Whilst I welcome the additional economic activity these buildings bring to Bicester, due attention needs to be paid to nearby cottages and the further development of houses that are proposed nearby.

"I believe the increase in height to be unnecessary and an overdevelopment of the site."

Mr Mawer referenced two cottages which sit 350m away from the proposed warehouse.

Db Symmetry's planning agents Framptons argued this was a 'considerable distance' and the increase in height would not have any 'significant effects' on residential amenity.

The developers have said there would be a 'landscaping bund' installed as a buffer between the cottages and the site.

They also submitted a report from estate agents Savills which said the increase in height would 'future proof' the development and make it more attractive to future tenants.

However, nearby Ambrosden Parish Council said it feared the extra space would lead to an increase in HGVs and called for time limits to these movements.

The proposals also include office space, a security gatehouse, access road and service yard, lorry parking and 'green corridor' with footpaths and a cycle link.

The details of the plan will go before councillors at Bodicote House at 4pm. For details of the plan search 18/00098/F online at cherwell.gov.uk