A resident has raised fears him and his neighbours will be ‘trapped in their homes’ if changes to a plan for 50 homes in Warfield are allowed.
The plan for the development on a field north of Newhurst Gardens has proven controversial ever since it surfaced in 2016.
While an outline plan was rejected by Bracknell Forest Council, the principle of building homes on the site was granted on appeal to the government’s planning inspectorate.
Now the developer, Croudace Homes, has applied to change the access plan for the development.
Currently, it is envisaged that it will be accessed using a 5.5 metre wide road. But Croudace Homes has submitted a plan that would see the access road narrow to 3.7 metres at one point.
A neighbour has argued while a 5.5 metre road would allow two cars to pass, the 3.7 metre section is only wide enough for one car at a time.
The change has led to fears it would cause a traffic nightmare as drivers would have to stop to let each other get in and out of the new development.
Clive Hobbs, who lives in Newhurst Gardens, said: “No one would be able to get in or out.
“The residents would be trapped and emergency vehicles wouldn’t be able to get in.”
Other neighbours fear it would lead to drivers reversing onto their drives in Newhurst Gardens and even onto Warfield Street.
READ MORE: Neighbours call for 50 home Warfield plan to be thrown out
When an outline plan for the 50 homes was allowed on appeal by government planning inspector David Reed, it was specified that development be built in accordance with the 5.5 metre ‘potential access option.’
Mr Hobbs said: “This is a totally unacceptable and dangerous application.
“The appeal inspector specified the two-way carriageway access arrangements for good reasons.”
It is understood that there are questions over whether a 5.5 metre wide access road can be delivered due to land ownership, however that detail is unconfirmed.
In addition to the section for cars, the access plan shows a two metre wide footpath for pedestrians.
You can the Croudace Homes application for changes to the access road by typing reference 22/01047/FUL into the council’s planning portal.
In December last year, detailed plans for 50 homes development were approved by Bracknell Forest Council’s planning committee, under application reference 21/00244/REM.
That application covered details of the appearance and the layout of the development.
READ MORE: Plan for 50 homes in Warfield goes ahead despite fears of creating a 'ghetto'
In a planning committee meeting, Zoe Wainwright, an architectural designer for Croudace Homes, argued the proposed homes would complement the character of existing houses in Warfield, and that the development has been well designed to incorporate the existing trees on the site.
The outline application establishing the principle of 50 homes being built on the site was approved on appeal in 2018, under planning reference 16/01004/OUT.
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