Concerned neighbours have spoken out against plans for a new four-bed house on a Sandhurst street which was approved by Bracknell Forest councillors.

Emma Winder has been given permission to build the two-storey home on The Broadway, on a vacant plot of land between numbers six and eight in Gibbons Close.

But residents had worried that the development would exacerbate flooding, and that the proposed driveway would pose a danger.

Susan Ayling of The Broadway, which is behind Gibbons Close, wrote to the council to object to the plan. She said: “We have a serious concern in respect of flooding/standing water in our back garden which occurs each year, mainly during the winter and spring months.

“The flooding problem first occurred after the building of Gibbons Close.” She added that she believed rain water from nearby Thibet Woods was “circumnavigating” the buildings on Gibbons Close.

Others warned that the planned driveway on Gibbons Close could pose a danger, as it would be at a right angle to other garages, and is also of a different design to those of neighbouring houses.

Linda Rose of Gibbons Close said: “The vehicular access from Gibbons Close is unacceptable. The Close is a mixed age community with many small children. Having cars entering the close just for parking would increase traffic and disrupt the local residents.

“In addition, all houses in the Close have front gardens. The deeds of my house specify that the front space must be an open plan garden. Allowing a parking area for residents of another street is not in keeping with the current appearance of the Close.”

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But planning officer Shelley Clark said highways authorities had no safety objections to the plans. And she said vehicle speeds at the parking space are “likely to be low” as it is near the end of the close. She also said planners would need to submit further plans for proposed fences or walls.

And officials said construction can’t take place until the council had seen and approved a plan showing how surface water would be drained and disposed of

Councillor Dorothy Hayes said: “I’m glad to see that conditions have been placed in case of surface water, and drainage and that has been covered.”

Councillors voted unanimously to approve the plans at a committee meeting on Thursday, June 15.