Plans to build 50 new homes on a greenfield site are set for approval despite strong opposition from three local councils.
Wokingham Borough Council will decide on an application to build up to 50 new homes on Land off Langley Common Road, Arborfield at a planning committee meeting on Thursday, November 14.
Developer Anwyl Land Limited would make 40 per cent of these affordable housing.
It would be located within the same parish of major 3,500 home Arborfield Green development.
But issues were taken with the scheme by Barkham, Arborfield and Newland, and Shinfield Parish Councils, as well as 124 neighbours objecting to the plans.
All lower authorities raised concerns with the rate of housebuilding in the area and the wider impacts it would have on surrounding roads, schools, health services and amenities.
In it’s objection, Arborfield and Newland Parish Council said that housing in the area had ‘already been more than delivered’, and that there was no ‘discernible benefit’ in another 50.
Neighbouring Shinfield, which is experiencing an emerging shortfall in school places, said that the new homes would ‘further diminish access to education within the parish by reducing spare capacity’.
A planning committee report notes that the closest school, Bohunt Secondary School, is already at maximum capacity – but that the council plans to increase the number of places for children in coming years.
Barkham Parish Council said the homes would take away green space from surrounding residential properties.
The smaller authority said: “This is entirely a greenfield development site and an area of mature countryside that will concentrate human and traffic activity…This will have a significant and negative impact on wildlife such as badgers, foxes, deer, owls and red kites.”
The site further lies close to a known flood risk area, with flooding ‘frequent’ even with ‘moderate rainfall’, the parish council warned.
It is within five kilometres of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area.
This is an internationally important habitat home to three rare species of ground nesting birds.
Planning officers have recommended approval be given on the condition that a suitable alternative natural green space be created along with the homes to mitigate potential impacts on the special protection area.
The report admits that ‘there would be a degree of harm to the character and appearance of the countryside’, but that the provision of new affordable homes is a ‘weighty material benefit’ in comparison.
Other points were made about a shortage of sustainable travel options in the area.
But planning officers say approval should be granted on the basis that a bus stop is relocated closer to the site.
Developers Anwyl Land Limited would also have to contribute £914 per home – a total of £45,700 – to bus services.
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