Another council objection to 200 home and care home development on Bowling Green Road in Thatcham

Cold Ash Parish Council has objected to an application for 200 houses and a three-storey care home in Thatcham.

The development, situated between Bowling Green Road, Heath Lane and Cold Ash Hill, is called Henwick Park.

Planning developer Croudace Homes has submitted an outline application for an 80-bed care home and up to 200 residential dwellings.

Cold Ash Parish Council joins Thatcham Town Council and Bucklebury Parish Council in objecting to the plans.

It said the site is unsuitable for development and that it has been turned down for planning in the past for good reasons that have not materially changed.

Specifically it said the development would have a negative impact on the environment, and that it is not supported by the council’s local Neighbourhood Development Planning (NDP) process.

The traffic increases caused by this expansion were called “too much” for Cold Ash.

The infrastructure to support 200 dwellings, in addition to the 1,200 houses proposed in the local plan (LP), simply does not exist, it said – mirroring one of Thatcham Town Council’s main issues.

The parish council said the site forms an “important rural gap” between Cold Ash and Thatcham, it is a natural sink for flood defence, the development indicates an “unacceptably high level” of urbanisation, it is in a high-traffic location and the boundary is only 100 metres away from a Grade II listed structure.

It added: “This plan, we believe, is problematic in many ways, and the entire macro picture of the impact of housing on the area, its infrastructure, and resources has not been adequately evaluated.

“The proposed planning proposal clearly contradicts the views of the local community, and we consequently intend to oppose it.

“We strongly encourage West Berkshire Council to reject the proposal and honour the NDP produced in conjunction with the local community.”

The plans, which were submitted last month, will also see a public open space including a country park, allotments, community orchard, trim trail and equipped play areas.

Water basins are being constructed in this area and the applicant said a considerable amount of liaison and co-ordination has been carried out to ensure the proposed main access route into the site can be facilitated between the new flood basins.

To view and comment on the latest application, enter 23/00798/OUTMAJ into West Berkshire Council’s planning website.