Another plan submitted for Hambridge Lake chalets between Newbury and Thatcham

Plans to build holiday chalets between Newbury and Thatcham have been submitted to West Berkshire Council.

Nine three-bed holiday chalets and a clubhouse with access has been requested for a site on Hambridge Road.

The plans also include parking areas for 26 cars, new pedestrian links, raised walkways and fishing stations.

The applicant, Steve Hamilton, has said the purpose of the development is for recreational holiday leisure use only.

It is proposed that the chalets are a retreat for angling use on the Hambridge Lake.

The applicant said he intends to create a high-quality contemporary leisure development.

The site is owed by the applicant and sits south of London Road (A4) and adjacent to Hambridge Road.

The current proposal has been drawn up following the refusal of a previous application for 41 chalets on this site.

The application was refused planning permission in March 2020, for seven reasons.

The applicant for that proposal was told the plans did not make provisions for acceptable access road links, the introduction of three large buildings would harm the visual setting and the build – which was proposed between two towns – would be harmful to the distinctive character of the area.

The application comprised chalets on a greenfield site outside the settlement boundary which formed another reason for dismissal.

The applicant was also told the plans – which would have created angling demand – would damage the local ecological balance.

The level of the proposed tree works that would have been required for the build was also said to be harmful to local biodiversity and the site sat largely in a flood zone.

The plans then went to appeal but were dismissed on November 30, 2021.

The appeal inspector’s decision notice raised concern with the development’s impact on landscape, trees and biodiversity.

To view and comment on the latest application, enter 23/00989/FULMAJ into West Berkshire Council’s planning website.