A DECADE-long planning battle is set to come before councillors once again next week as developers seek to revamp an area of land in Nursling.

Test Valley Borough Council's (TVBC) planning committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss the plans for Yew Tree Farm, in Yewtree Lane, which aim to finally attract occupies to the site, that was first earmarked in 2009.

The proposal seeks to change the use of the land, which was given permission for office use in 2016, to use for offices, research and development, and non-residential institutions.

According to a planning statement submitted with the application, the new owner, Oceanic Estates, "is keen to fully implement the scheme, however to do so they need to attract occupiers and to date none have been identified".

It added: "We have made this change of use application, therefore, to request a variation to the approved use class... due to an increase in the market demand from companies requiring buildings and floorspace that can accommodate research and development and medical uses, which often require an a proportion of office use, but require the flexibility of a shell fit out.

"We believe that having this flexibility will help attract high‐tech and medical use occupiers to the Yew Tree Farm/ Adanac Park development,

which will enable the development to be fully realised."

However, the scheme has received an objection from Nursling and Rownhams Parish Council. Council clerk Bill Ashdown said in a letter to planners: "The parish council particularly object to the change of use to non-residential institutions because the previous successful application for this site included plans for circa 95 car parking spaces.

"On the form for this application the applicant has answered no to the question is vehicle parking relevant to this application form. No different plans in relation to car parking have been submitted."

Mr Ashdown said the development, because of its size, would need 98 parking spaces, "three more than permission was granted for".

He added: "The applicant is vague about possible uses for the premises, but we believe that granting permission for D1 use (non-residential institutions) is not appropriate as there are not enough car parking spaces for many of the uses permitted."

However, the scheme has been recommended for approval by planning officer Paul Goodman. In his report, which will be debated by the committee, he said: "The D1, subject to a restriction, is considered an appropriate departure from local plan policy. In addition the economic and employment benefits of the development are a significant material consideration weighing in favour of the grant of permission."

As previously reported, the site was first given planning permission for offices in 2009, but applications had to be resubmitted due to the lack of building work.

It was part of a larger plan to redevelop the fields at Adanac Park. The then landowner, Barker Mills Estates, wanted to create two industrial zones and storage for a 78-acre site at Adanac Park but their application was refused by Test Valley Borough Council – a decision which was upheld by a planning inspector.

Only the scheme to restore Yew Tree Farm for office business space was given approval.