Development at former waste ground in Hermitage is approved
Taylor Wimpey and Miller Homes was granted planning permission to turn the 0.97-hectare site off Pinewood Crescent, Hermitage, which was once used as a waste ground compound, into an estate of 28 houses by the district council’s eastern area planning committee at a meeting at the Calcot Centre last Wednesday night.
All the housing will be two storeys with a mixture of detached, semi-detached and terraced units, with six three-bedroom properties, 14 with four or more bedrooms and eight affordable homes, made up of four two-bedroom and four three-bedroom homes.
A similar application to build 34 houses on the site was rejected by planning officers in March last year, with officers citing design, scale, proximity to surrounding properties and the failure to enter into a Section 106 (developers’ financial contributions) agreement as reasons for refusal.
The latest proposals received six letters of objections from residents.
Debbie Eatwell told the eastern area planning committee that the development would restrict sunlight to her house in nearby Orchard Close.
Hermitage Parish Council also rejected the proposals, with parish councillor Mark Kerry describing the plans as “claustrophobic” and of poor design.
“The site is designated for light
industrial use. It would provide much- needed employment opportunities,” he said.
“Certainly Hermitage Primary School is over-subscribed. This development will make the situation worse,” he added.
West Berkshire Council member for Calcot, Brian Bedwell (Con) said that the Section 106 developer contributions for education of £222,661.39 would offset any strain on educational services.
The council’s portfolio holder for planning, Alan Law (Con, Basildon), said that the site was “crying out for development”, but Quentin Webb (Con, Bucklebury) argued that the density of the development was too high.
The agent for the developer, Andy Cattermole, of Simon Cooper Associates Limited, admitted that some of the gardens were smaller than recommended in the West Berkshire design guide, but added that the development would make good use of a vacant brownfield site.
The plans were approved by a majority vote, with only Mr Webb voting against the development.