A PUB’S bid to serve booze late at night in the grounds of a huge industrial complex in Hampshire has been branded as “ludicrous”.

The Farmhouse Inn will be built as part of an ambitious masterplan to create a business park with dozens of firms providing 3,600 jobs at Adanac Park off the M271, near Nursling.

Brewery Greene King Developments Ltd has submitted a licensing application to serve alcohol and host live music from 10am-12.30pm seven days a week.

But local residents and parish councillors fear the combination of rowdy punters and loud music will disturb people living nearby and want hours restricted to 11pm.

As previously reported, the Adanac Park complex hangs in the balance after Test Valley Borough Council planners ruled the 78-acre site would fail to create enough skilled work.

Landowners Barker-Mill estates are appealing the council’s decision to reject the two applications for a combined 31,700sqm of distribution and storage next to Ordnance Survey’s headquarters.

The pub and restaurant has already been given the green light, along with 20,583sqm of business floor space and permission for 23 homes on Bargain Farm, in Frogmore Lane.

Licensing chiefs will consider the pub’s opening hours at a hearing on July 17.

Bill Ashdown, clerk for Nursling and Rownhams Parish Council, said the venue will create “increased noise” and a risk of antisocial behaviour and vandalism for neighbours in the Hillyfields area.

He said: “We would prefer if it operated at standard pub hours.”

Test Valley Borough councillor for Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams ward Cllr Phil Bundy pointed out permission was granted for the pub to serve businesses at the site.

He said: “It’s there for the park, not to provide a pub for the whole area. It’s ludicrous that we are looking at a late night licence."

“Logically you shouldn’t allow an increase in hours until it has been built.

“It is going to be very difficult to reduce the hours once it has been set up.”

Local residents Claire and John Lucas added that noise and lights from the venue and car park will cause “late night disturbance.”

A spokesman for Greene King said: “At this stage, our only aim is to give us the extra flexibility in order to serve the needs of the local community. It is simply to provide us with the option of trading later once the pub is open should customer demand for it exist.”