The fate of a controversial major housing development near Crowthorne is set to be decided after a crunch appeal hearing next week.

A government planning inspector will rule on whether the 226-home Beaufort Park development can go ahead, after a hearing on Tuesday, June 13. Developers Southern Housing Group are appealing Bracknell Forest Council’s decision to refuse the plan permission.

The plans are to build two and three-storey homes consisting of 79 two-beds, 94 three-beds and 53 four-beds, off Nine Mile Ride between Bracknell and Crowthorne. There would also be 24 two-bedroom apartments.

But more than 100 residents objected to the plans. And the council’s planning committee voted it down in June last year, saying the plans did not include enough parking, and would place “unacceptable pressure” on roads, community facilities and open space.

Now Southern Homes is appealing the decision, and says it has amended its plans to include more space for parking.

But many Crowthorne residents have written in to object once again – with many warning of the loss of green space surrounding Bracknell.

Andy Lester of Parkway wrote: “The previously sacrosanct Strategic Gap between Crowthorne and Bracknell is rapidly becoming a myth rather than a fact and this development feeds into that.

“Any open space will take years to recover, and will not generate the return of the wild and plant life disturbed and destroyed by building this development.”

He added: “This is in addition to the hugely negative impact upon local infrastructure – our roads are already struggling with the weight of traffic around and through the area.”

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In the appeal, the firm’s consultants Iceni Projects says most of the council’s objections “can be dealt with in a relatively straightforward manner.” But it accepts there is “fundamental disagreement” over planning policy regarding parking.

It hopes the appeal will be a chance to air and understand the arguments. “That will include the views of any local residents or interested parties,” it adds.

Despite being rejected by the planning committee, the development featured in the council’s latest published draft of its Local Plan. This sets out where new homes, businesses and facilities could be built over the next 15 years.

The Crowthorne Village Action Group hopes that the appeal hearing will decide against the development. It said: “If approval is granted then that’s it – they will be able to build.

“However if the appeal is rejected then that site will have been rejected by Crowthorne Parish Council and the planning committee of Bracknell Forest Council. Then there will be good grounds for removing it from the local plan.”