West Berkshire Council planners consider revived Hungerford homes bid

A fresh proposal to build new homes on land west of Everland Road in Hungerford has been submitted to planners.

The applicant, as previously, is Sir John Troup, and the project entails construction of three homes with four bedrooms each.

A similar application – for three, five-bedroom homes – was refused in May.

That project prompted objections from Hungerford Town Council, The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, West Berkshire Council's highways department and flooding experts.

A design and access statement provided with the new application acknowledges the prior refusal but states: "Whilst the principle of development was confirmed to be acceptable in this earlier application, it was refused based on inadequate information being provided in respect of constraints at the site.

"In order to overcome these earlier reasons for refusal, new documents have been provided which provide the necessary information requested."

It adds: "There is clearly a substantial demand for good quality family homes in the area and the provision of the proposed dwellings will help to address that need.

"In terms of potential harm to the AONB [Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty], the character and proportions of the design are very familiar within the locality and site context.

"The proposals are also substantially screened by existing planting.

"Where in the limited cases it is proposed to remove healthy trees, replacements have been identified which will be located to remain in-situ in perpetuity."

The town council's environment and planning committee has yet to debate, in its advisory capacity, the new project.

Meanwhile the plans can be viewed in full, and commented on, by visiting the planning section of West Berkshire Council's website and using the reference 22/03034/FUL.