Anger over Kintbury homes plan

Developer wants to build 72 new houses on land north of Irish Hill Road

PLANS to build 72 homes in Kintbury have been submitted despite widespread objections from residents and the parish council.

Cambridge-based property developer Endurance Estates has put in an official application to West Berkshire Council, stating its desire to build the new dwellings on a 3.1 hectare piece of land north of Irish Hill Road.

The parcel of agricultural land, situated on the northern edge of the village, is set in the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

If plans are approved, vehicular and pedestrian access to the proposed development is to be provided by a new junction on Newbury Street, some 60m west of the mini-roundabout junction with Burton’s Hill.

The new development would also include a public open space, landscaping, a new attenuation area and a play area.

In May 2014, the developer presented the plans to the parish council and in August 2015 leaflets were dropped through the doors of all 967 homes within the main area of the village.

Owing to the number of responses received, a public consultation event was held in the village in October.

A total of 124 written responses were received, as well as a number of queries by telephone.

Most of the comments received (109) concerned the impact on the existing highways network and transport concerns and a total of 50 responses queried the impact that the proposed development may have on the existing services within the village, namely the school and doctor’s surgery.

Another 35 comments either thought that there was no need for additional housing in the village or that the proposal was for too many dwellings.

Some of the more positive consultation comments acknowledged that the proposals could help address the need for affordable housing in the village.

Kintbury Parish Council chairman Stephen Cook said: “From a parish council point of view, we do not think it is viable and we do not want to see that number of new houses in Kintbury.

“We know that the roads cannot cope with it and we are the ones who will have to deal with the aftermath.

“The village is going to get nothing out of it.

“It can only be punishment for Kintbury and I cannot see any gain for us whatsoever.

“It would be devastating for the village and would, I feel, have an adverse effect.”