Hitachi to go to North Bradley

Hitachi are set to move from Canal Road in Trowbridge to the White Horse Business Park. The site is the field west of the A363, opposite the car showrooms.

The implications of the proposal were discussed at the Trowbridge Area Board on May 17th. Agenda

Hitachi say they've outgrown their current site and need to relocate by March 2014 when their lease expires. They currently employ about 100 staff and would like to increase the complement to about 150. The planning application, reference number W/12/01121/FUL, was approved by Wiltshire Council's Strategic Planning Committee on September 12th. Hitachi say they will begin construction by the end of the year.

The site was not allocated for employment use in the recently approved Core Strategy.

North Bradley Parish Council opposed the scheme. In a letter to planners they said: "This is a sacrosanct Greenfield site acting as a buffer zone between the White Horse Business Park and North Bradley and was deemed not to be used for development when the White Horse Business Park was built. Councillors believe that Hitachi doesn't need a Greenfield site that is not in the core strategy as there are plenty of alternatives and would suggest that the Hitachi proposal is not fit for purpose if they cannot find a site in the core strategy. The Parish Council feel misled & deceived over this proposal and feel the Hitachi threat of moving out of Trowbridge if they cannot have this site tantamount to pressure/blackmail. Councillors objected very strongly to the 'softening up' process prior to the submission of a planning application and there is now a feeling of 'no confidence' in the Wiltshire Council Planning Committee. It is the Councillors' impression that Wiltshire Council is being 'hoodwinked' by Hitachi. This application, if given permission, would open up development elsewhere and everything should be done to curtail this concept in its early stages."