A public consultation has begun over a plan to build 54 homes next to a hotel in Wokingham.
Developers are seeking to build 54 homes on land west of the Hilton St Anne’s Manor hotel.
Of the 54 homes, 19 will be affordable, with six one-bedroom flats, three two-bedroom flats, six two-bedroom houses and four three-bedroom houses making up the affordable housing offer.
The site would be accessed by vehicle using London Road and St Anne’s Drive. The proposed development would be linked by paths to the Buckhurst Meadows nature park to the west.
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There are currently stable buildings on the site, which it is understood would be demolished to make way for the homes.
The plan has already received objections over the alleged merging of Wokingham and Bracknell, due to the proximity of the manor to Amen Corner and Binfield.
One objector wrote: “The green space erosion between Bracknell and Wokingham is unacceptable and is merging the two areas.
“The proposed development will also result in less green space generally affecting wildlife.
“The amount of open space available to surrounding residents from more homes here will again impact on already well used neighbouring SANG Buckhurst Meadows.
“There has been a huge amount of new home building in the area which is already badly affecting Doctors availability, traffic etc. and adversely affecting the lives of long standing residents, particularly in the vicinity of this site.
“The road layout will not support another development here being so close to major junctions. Queueing traffic on London Road is already a problem for all local residents.”
Other commenters objected over the increase in housing and traffic the development would pose, as well as concerns over the local deer population being ‘squeezed’ into an ever smaller area of land.
The public consultation concludes on Tuesday, July 20.
A similar plan from the same developers for 74 homes was rejected by Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee on January 9, 2020 (application: 182882).
The official refusal by Clare Lawrence, Wokingham Borough Council’s assistant director of place, cited the original plan’s cramped layout, the potential merging of Wokingham and Bracknell, and a failure to provide enough of a Suitable Area of Natural Greenspace (SANG) – as reasons for the refusal.
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The developers Beaulieu Homes began an appeal process but decided to withdraw their appeal this April.
To take part in the consulation, simply comment on the application by typing reference 203544 into Wokingham Borough Council’s planning portal: https://planning.wokingham.gov.uk/FastWebPL/welcome.asp
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