No decision has been reached on plans to redefine the former Padworth Saw Mills site in Aldermaston.
Councillors on the Eastern Area Planning Committee asked for more detail on how the site operates and what impact a change might have before any choice is made.
The application seeks a change of use to B8 storage and distribution, plus retention of the gabion walls and fencing, existing hard surfacing, extra hard surfacing and a storage shed.
Aldermaston Parish Council says the site was not intended for 'eternal industrial use', has encroached on rural land and wants 50 per cent returned to agriculture. The parish instructed Keystone Law to provide a legal opinion.
Keystone argues the site does not benefit from B8 across the whole area and currently mixes B2 and B8 uses. They say some activities are unlawful, not immune from enforcement, and the land cannot be treated as previously developed.
Locals say the road is unsuitable for HGV traffic. Rob Smith, objecting, said: "We have lived on Rag Hill for 20 years and have seen unlawful activities destroying agricultural land and in the last five years these activities have intensified. We have seen a substantial increase in traffic, mostly HGVs. The route is unsuitable and verges and driveways are damaged to create passing spaces."
Agent Hayden Richardson accepted the site had a messy planning history and described the application as marking a 'new planning chapter' for the site enabling 'clear and controlled use'. He added: "Several trees were removed which was regrettable but we will put some back," he said. "I fully appreciate HGVs use the road, but it is an employment site and large vehicles have been going up and down the road for about 30 years."
Planning officers were asked to report back with new information before a decision is reached.
Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter
