Neighbours living in a small village east of Reading are gearing up to fight a plan to build hundreds of homes in the countryside.
Development company Mactaggart & Mickel Homes have recently submitted a plan to build 200 homes on the 26.39 acre field north of Tape Lane in Hurst, near Woodley.
Of the 200 homes proposed, 16 would be one bed flats, 38 would be two bed flats, and there would be 25 two bed homes, 57 three bed homes, and 64 four bed homes, with 40 per cent of the development being affordable.
The plan submitted is in an outline form, with all matters reserved apart from access to the proposed development.
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Vehicular access would be provided from Lodge Road, with three pedestrian and cycle entry and exits to Tape Lane.
Planning agents for Mactaggart & Mickel have argued that the new estate, called ‘Lodge Green’ would be “a natural extension” of Hurst and provide much needed homes.
But the application is being opposed by neighbours, who have set up the ‘Save Hurst’ Facebook group to fight the plan.
David Anthony Newbold, a neighbour who has objected to the plan, has pointed out that the site has not been allocated for development in the current Wokingham Local Plan.
He also raised fears that Lodge Green could compromise the character of Hurst if approved.
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Mr Newbold wrote: "Hurst is a rural village as well as a Parish. It is a lovely calm and peaceful village, unspoilt by overpopulation and overdevelopment, the quality of life for residents and wildlife is maintained including low light, air and habitat pollution.
“This is the reason why myself and others were originally attracted to Hurst and without this sustainable approach the village will cease to maintain it’s historic character.
“Small development clusters of a few houses do make sense but an ‘up to’ 200 house development does not.”
The Save Hurst group has engaged in a banner campaign throughout the village calling on neighbours to oppose the plan, as its currently undergoing a public consultation on Wokingham Borough Council’s planning portal.
To view the plans and comment, type in reference 220458 into the planning portal here: https://planning.wokingham.gov.uk/FastWebPL/welcome.asp
The consultation will expire on Friday, April 1.
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