Plans could bring work boost

4:27pm Wednesday 19th March 2008

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A bumper 850 jobs could be created in Grove if a new business park is built on the edge of the village.

Developers are eyeing up a patch of farmland near Bellingers Garage between the A338 Station Road and Letcombe Brook.

The multi-million-pound plan could see a clutch of hi-tech businesses linked to the nearby Williams F1 complex move to the area.

Wantage Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the idea, but sounded a note of caution about the potential for new development.

The site would provide 17,000 square metres of office and light industrial work space.

Matthew Chapman, of the chamber of commerce, welcomed the possibility of expanding the business community and local employment opportunities.

But he added: "Many residents of Wantage and Grove have been affected by a number of different planning proposals and the need for transparency and sensible debate is vital."

A full size sports pitch, smaller training pitch and changing facilities are also listed in the plans for the 22 acre site and could be made available to local sports clubs.

Grove Parish Council chairman Frank Parnell said he would welcome the development, provided it was in a sensible location. He said the council would make a formal response once the application had been submitted.

Developer Rey Construction Ltd said quite a high proportion of the nearby working population was forced to commute to work by car.

The firm believes the development would boost local employment opportunities, cut down on carbon emissions and bring forward the proposed northern link road to connect the A338 with the Grove Airfield development.

Michael Murfin, 70, of Vale Avenue, Grove, has three sons employed locally and welcomed the plans - as long as there was suitable access to the site.

He said: "I have no problems with it. It would be good to have it on our doorstep because people will not have to go too far. My son works at Milton Park and it used to take him three hours to get there and back every day because of public transport.

"A little bit of industry would be able to sustain some of the people who will move into the new airfield development."