**UPDATED Mar 2022 – Plans to demolish Burghclere Signal Box 

11th March 2022 – Update to the planning application which included the demolition of Burghclere Signal Box

RR Chairman, Mark Jones, wrote a letter of objection to the local (Basingstoke) council, as did a number of Southern Group and other RR members. Accordingly the application has been amended so that the box is no longer under threat, though it is hoped the rest of the planning application will fail too. It feels as if RR made a difference!


The email below is from Jan Lidgley, who owns the former DNS station at Burghclere. Those of you at this year’s Railway Ramblers AGM will remember her kindly allowing us to view her property, and we also viewed the old signal box. We have also made previous visits while walking the former line.

It would be appreciated if you could object using the link https://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/view-planning-applications and searching under the Planning Application Reference 22/00428/FUL

(Graham Lambert)


Dear Graham,

I know you have enjoyed bringing groups of Railway Ramblers to Burghclere Station, as equally Paul and I have enjoyed showing you around. Your visits here have always included an inspection of Burghclere signal Box which has added to everyone’s experience.

We have just been notified that the Highclere Estate have submitted a planning application to build a grain store/dryer on the site of the old railway sidings, and should this go ahead the signal box will be demolished.

I am aware that the Railway Ramblers Group do occasionally make representations to the local planning authorities in relation to planning applications that impact railway heritage and so I thought I would advise you about this situation.

The planning application has been submitted to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and the application number is: 22/00428/FUL. Plans and supporting documentation can be found on the Council’s website. The closure date for comments is 15th March 2022, and Burghclere Parish Council will be considering this application (including any comments made by interested parties) at their monthly meeting on 7th March 2022.

As the owners of a neighbouring property, Paul and and I are also concerned about the apparent over development and out of keeping nature of this proposal in an area designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (ANOB), and the visual impact, traffic generation, and noise and light pollution that will be associated with the proposal.

The eaves height of the proposed building exceeds that of the old station building and the proposed building will cover an area four times the size of the old station. There are no other buildings of this scale along Lime Kiln Cottage Road.

I expect, like us, you are saddened to hear this news.

With best wishes,

Jan