Haseley Trading Estate
Plans for the Haseley Trading Estate
A new vehicle depot at the Haseley Trading Estate will significantly contribute towards the long-term future of our successful waste collections in the districts.
We are working on securing a long-term vehicle depot at former Haseley Trading Estate (the former Ariens/Countax site) in South Oxfordshire, for our waste collection and street cleansing service’s vehicle fleet.
The new site would be used as a depot for parking waste and recycling collection vehicles, street cleansing and maintenance vehicles and where members of staff would operate from. The proposed depot would not be used to store or dispose of waste or operate as a waste transfer station.
Planning application
A planning application for the site will be submitted in May. There will be an opportunity for people to view plans and comment as part of the planning process. Subject to planning approval, the new depot would operate from the summer of 2026.
We will update this webpage once the planning application is submitted.
Public drop-in event
We held a drop-in event for local people on 28 April at Little Milton Village Hall between 3pm and 7.30pm for people to drop by and chat to the project team about the future plans for the site.
Virtual exhibition
For anyone who couldn’t make the event, the exhibition boards are available to view in the form of a virtual exhibition. You can download a PDF copy of the exhibition boards or view virtual exhibition on Prezi.
You can feedback on the virtual exhibition here.
Contact
We will update this webpage regularly – please check back later. You can also email the project team with any questions at HaseleyTradingEstate@southandvale.gov.uk
FAQ
Why do we need a new depot?
The current vehicle depot is located in Culham and includes recycling and waste collection vehicles, street cleansing and maintenance vehicles, alongside staff facilities. Longer term, the Culham site is due for redevelopment for new homes and is identified in the Local Plan.
The existing services contract and occupation of the Culham depot expire in 2026, so amongst other work, this has meant a requirement for a new location that meets the vital need to provide important statutory waste collection services.
Where is the proposed new site?
Following thorough research, our focus is now firmly on a site we have purchased near to Great Haseley in South Oxfordshire. The site is accessed via Rectory Road and is approximately 0.3 miles to the west of the village of Great Haseley and 1.5 miles to the southeast of the M40 motorway (Junction 7).
Why are we making this move and how does this fit with our future plans for the waste service?
Every day, our bin crews empty thousands of waste and recycling bins and a street cleansing crews maintain the cleanliness of both districts. These are vital and valued services which support residents, businesses and visitors.
We are currently working on procuring a new waste collection and street cleansing contract as our current contract with Biffa ends in 2026 and we are now at a pivotal time for our important services. We have developed a Waste Resources and Street Cleansing Strategy, informed by upcoming national changes and by our ambition to reduce, reuse and recycle more, to enhance our sustainability measures and ultimately both councils commitment to reach net zero.
What are the operating hours of the site?
The site will operate between 5am and 5pm Monday to Friday. On Saturdays there will be a reduced service, except following a bank holiday, where operational vehicles leave between 6am and 7am and return from 2pm. Given the nature of the service, there will be long periods were on site activity is very low.
How will vehicles access the site?
We plan to keep the existing site access, with minor improvements made as needed.
Will operational vehicles use the local road network?
Operational vehicles will use local roads in the area as they serve the surrounding region. The impact of these vehicles will be thoroughly evaluated.
How will the development affect local traffic?
The number of additional vehicles, compared to current levels, is expected to be small, and as such the impact on local traffic will be relatively minimal. The Transport Assessment, alongside the local highways authority report, will consider the effect of the development on local road safety in detail.
Will the site have any impact on local air quality?
Since there will be small local increase in the number of larger vehicles on the road as they enter and leave the site, an air quality assessment is currently being undertaken. This will ascertain any measures we need to put in place to reduce the effects on air quality.
Will there be any smells associated with the site?
There shouldn’t be any issue with smell or odour on the site. We won’t be storing any waste on this site or in vehicles as they will be unloaded before returning to the depot. We will also prepare an odour management plan to ensure any residual odour are dealt with efficiently.
Will it be dusty during the building demolition period?
We will ensure we stick to best-practice measures during both the demolition and construction phases to ensure we keep off-site dust to a minimum.
Will there be any noise on site?
In common with the site’s former use, the new depot will produce some noise from vehicle movements and on-site operations. The design of the site aims to maximise separation distances between these operations and nearby neighbours. Noise assessments are being conducted, including baseline noise surveys and calculations to identify potential impacts, which will be carefully managed.
Will the proposed development impact any local heritage?
The proposed redevelopment will have no notable impact on known heritage assets in the area. The site is currently well screened with trees, and we plan to retain and enhance the existing boundary planting, the removal of buildings will reduce the visual impact of the site.
Will there be any additional screening/fencing?
We will keep most of the existing fencing, however there will be a need for some additional fencing to the northwest boundary and new access gates to the southern boundary. The new car park has been designed to have minimal visual impact upon the surrounding area. In addition to this, the existing boundary to the site is higher and surrounded by mature trees, which provides further screening of the site.
Will the look or height of the warehouse change?
The height and size of the warehouse will not change. The existing cladding panels will be refurbished and replaced, as necessary. There will be some minor modifications to the
warehouse elevations to allow for new windows and access doors.
Will the site have lots of lighting?
The new depot’s lighting will be designed to reduce visible glare, using dimming options instead of being fully on or off. This approach, called “dark sky,” helps avoid bright light disturbing the environment.
Will the site use any alarm systems?
The building and yard space will have fire and security alarms. Both will be maintained so that they are not sounded unnecessarily.
Will the site use CCTV for safety and security?
The site will have CCTV for safety and security. An impact assessment will be carried out if any cameras cross into public space – such as the passing roads.
Will the site be energy efficient?
We plan to refurbish the building we are keeping and move away from gas heating. We plan to use direct electrical heating, supported by the solar panel installation that will be added on to the building.
Which Council will determine the planning application?
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils, who own the site, are the applicants for the proposed planning application for the depot. The local authorities are making an application to South Oxfordshire District Council as the planning authority to develop land within their ownership, which is called a ‘Regulation 3’ application.
Planning regulations mean that this kind of planning application (where a council makes an application to itself) is determined like those of any other person applying for planning permission. Like other applications, proposed developments must comply with the adopted Local Plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
Will there be a planning application for change of use at the site?
The primary use of the site will be the storing of good vehicles, however, there is a workshop area associated with the maintenance of the goods vehicles with associated facilities (such as a fuelling bay).
Based upon this, the proposed development would be a ‘Sui Generis Use Class’. This refers to specialised uses of land or buildings that do not fit neatly into any of the established use classes.
Who will be consulted as a statutory consultee?
Oxfordshire County Council Highways will be a statutory consultee in relation to the submitted planning application. Highways will comment on how the provision of a vehicle depot in this location will support the delivery of its statutory functions.