A massive 1.1million sq ft business development at Javelin Park has been approved despite traffic concerns.

Northampton based developer Tritax Symmetry has been given the nod to build four huge warehouses next to the county's incinerator in Stonehouse.

Named Symmetry Park Gloucester, the site will be aimed at storage and distribution businesses and include ancillary offices, an energy centre, landscaping, fitness trail, amenity areas and new access.

Developers believe the scheme will create 490 jobs during construction and 1,200 direct jobs on site once complete.

However, objectors said it was a "good scheme at the wrong time" and should wait until after improvements at J12 of the M5 were completed.

Cllr Martin Brown (Green, Bisley) said people only took jobs in warehouses because it was "all they could get".

Speaking at a Stroud District Council meeting to decide the application, he said on balance it was more important to protect the views of the countryside than provide employment in that location.

Cllr Lucas Schoemaker (Green, Stroud Trinity) said: "The landscape can't walk, people can. The landscape is there and once it's gone it's gone. I feel employment can also go somewhere else.

"My fear is that we will get a ribbon of industrial development all the way round to Stonehouse and beyond."

The hybrid application for Javelin Park in Haresfield was submitted to the council back in October 2021 and after more than two years of discussions and revisions was finally brought before councillors on April 9.

Planning officers said the changes included reducing the height of buildings from 34m to 22m and that landscape experts had given the scheme the nod despite the effect on the landscape.

The application included outline plans for the whole 67 acre site and detailed plans for two units of 252,500 sq ft and 168,000 sq ft. with 314 parking spaces.

Tritax said when complete the business hub could accommodate approximately 1,100,000 sq ft of logistics floor space.

They said its location next to Junction 12 of the M5 provides "excellent road connectivity and prominence for occupiers".

The brownfield land forms a key part of the transformation of the former RAF Moreton Valence Airfield.

Gloucestershire County Council opened its incinerator on a northern section of the former airbase in 2020. Developer Graftongater has plans for a £10million scheme, known as Gloucester 12,  on another section which is neighboured by Dobbies garden centre.

Haresfield Parish Council, Hunts Grove Parish Council, Standish Parish Council and Hardwicke Parish Council all objected to the Symmetry plans. Their main concern was the impact on J12 of the M5 and they questioned why the development could not wait until after the junction improvements had taken place.

At the meeting Cllr Mark Ryder (C, Hardwicke) agreed and said: "This is a good scheme at the wrong time".

He added: "We are building assumptions on assumptions and with the dumbbell we are creating our own version of the magic roundabout which will blight us for years.

"The Local Plan has taught us we are reliant on an improved junction 12 and 14 which we don't have and are told could now cost £400million per junction.

"This site will have a lot of HGVs and I'm concerned that we are not asking for contributions. This developer is getting away scot free because they brought this forward ahead of the local plan."

The land is part of the Stroud District Draft Local Plan, which was expected to be adopted in 2024 but has been delayed after Government officials found it was not fit for purpose and its examination was paused.

Planning officers said that meant the application had to be considered as a departure from the current adopted plan and a "planning balance".

They said the development would fulfil an economic need for the entire region.

Cllr Schoemaker said: "What's the hurry? If the new plan is adopted with the appropriate work on J12 many of the objections from people will fall away.

"But to do this now without the security and funding agreed to sort it out, I feel this is premature. We should defer until J12 is done and the local plan is done."

Councillors were told if they did not make a decision the developers would likely win appeal on grounds of non determination.

Officers also pointed out that going against the advice of the experts would make winning an appeal very difficult.

Committee chair Cllr Martin Baxendale (Green, Stroud Valley) added: "Arguing against our own consultants is very difficult."

Cllr Schoemaker replied: "If it's all pre-determined by experts then why are we sitting where?"

National Highways and GCC Highways did not object to the plans and Stroud planning officers said it would not be appropriate the impose a condition relating to J12 as they were "satisfied that the scheme will mitigate its impacts on both the strategic and local highway network and will not cause a detrimental or severe impact on highway safety.

Proposed changes to the junction include a slight narrowing of the southern dumbbell to provide a wider carriageway, a reduction in the island size on the B4008 south approach and changes to road markings, specifically the southern dumbbell hatching and centre line.

Cllr Loraine Patrick (C, Dursley) said: "The experts deemed J14 was fine and it wasn't- they have to switch the traffic lights off at peak times. So I take things like that with a pinch of salt.

"It isn't a bad proposal at all although it could blend in better as we're not always grey in England.

"If the problems with J12 are severe enough to pause the Local Plan then they can't be any less severe for this and the amount of traffic it will generate."

Cllr Helen Fenton (Green, Chalford) moved to approve the application as per the officers recommendations.

She said: "Warehouses do go up and come down so maybe this is not forever. Maybe it is for now and is what 21st Century Gloucestershire, the economy needs.

"Someone obviously sees a demand from organisations that operate such large warehouses.

"I would love everyone to be doing creative jobs they love but we have to survive in the world we have created.

"For some people in the district, maybe a minimum wage job in a warehouse next to J12 would fit the bill."

Cllr Gary Luff (Green, Painswick and Upton) seconded and said: "We have guidance from highways who are the experts.

"So it comes back to whether the employment opportunity justifies the impact on the landscape.

"It's a tough decision because that is a very special view but we already have quite a lot of development there and people do need jobs."

Cllr Brown said: "On landscape versus jobs it's imponderable. I don't think anyone wants a job in a warehouse. They take them because it's all they can get.

"I think I'm inclined to protect the landscape. This would be a further blight and I want to protect that view."

The committee voted by majority of five to three, with one abstention, to approve the application subject to conditions.

In a statement Tritax said it was "delighted"planning permission had been granted.

It added: "The scheme includes full details for two buildings of 163,500 sq ft and 241,000 sq ft, with outline permission for a further c.700,000 sq ft of build to suit opportunities.

"We look forward to continuing to work closely with local stakeholders to bring the site forward, creating jobs and supporting the local economy."

On its website Tritax said it was aiming for the first two buildings to be delivered by mid-2025.