A major music festival at Matterley Estate near Winchester has been given the green light to continue until 2030, despite strong objections from residents and environmental campaigners.
The temporary approval allows one Boomtown Festival a year at Matterley Bowl, with attendance capped at 75,999, plus an additional 1,000 people on Sundays.
The site, around five kilometres north-east of Winchester and accessed primarily via the A31, would host a five-day event from Wednesday to Monday.
Entertainment would end on Sunday night, with campsites closing the following day.
As part of the application, organisers committed to a range of environmental measures.
These include the creation of a 4.2-acre on-site biodiversity net gain meadow adjacent to the South Downs Way, the installation of three new barn owl boxes, and the retention of 23 existing bird, bat and owl boxes.
An independent ecological survey will also be carried out annually, monitoring wildlife such as bats, breeding birds, badgers, butterflies, reptiles and grassland habitats.
However, the plans have drawn criticism from some local residents and environmental campaigners.
Alisson Mathews, who lives two miles from the site, said the impact of the festival was significant.
She siad: “From Wednesday through Sunday, we heard the bass beat almost constantly in our house and garden. By Sunday night we are exhausted from the lack of sleep.
“As a former member of the national park partnership, I find it particularly disappointing to see the park authority failing its residents by ignoring its first purpose and doing nothing to encourage Boomtown to find an alternative venue outside the protected landscape.”
Christopher Langford also raised concerns, arguing that the development should not be allowed in a national park.
He said: “The officer’s report admits this is a major development which would generally be refused but argues there are exceptional circumstances. That is very subjective, and I disagree.
“We are now one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. National parks should be havens for nature, not environments damaged by large-scale music festivals.
“Is the national park the right place for this development? I can’t see anywhere in the 78 pages of the plan a place for something like this. Why adopt a plan and then immediately breach it? Please fulfil your duty and protect nature.”
Festival organisers defended the proposal. Director of Boomtown, Shula Rael said: “The people behind the festival understand the purpose of this park. We take those responsibilities seriously, and we deliver against them.”
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