Fight to stop 100 homes in Tilehurst being built

Developer applies for housing on two 'preferred sites'

RESIDENTS have objected to two plans for more than 100 homes on ‘preferred’ sites in Tilehurst.

Darcliffe Homes has applied to build 39 homes on land opposite Hall Place Farm Stables, Sulham Hill, and 66 homes adjacent to Stonehams Farm, Dark Lane.

Both sites are included in West Berkshire Council’s Development Plan Document (DPD), which identifies preferred sites for housing outside of settlement boundaries.

The council said that the Sulham Hill site could accommodate approximately 35 homes and Dark Lane could take approximately 60.

The Reading-based developer has argued that ‘approximately’ can be 10 per cent under or over the given figure, hence the higher numbers.

It said that up to 40 per cent of the homes across both schemes will be affordable housing.

Darcliffe said that without homes on sites allocated in the DPD the council would not have a five-year supply of housing.

It added that its schemes will contribute immediately to the supply of land needed to demonstrate this quota.

Although the council has approved the DPD, it is currently being assessed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and has not been formally adopted.

Hundreds of residents, under the banner of Keep Tilehurst Green, have objected to both schemes, saying they will have a detrimental impact on the area.

Resident Iain Jones said: “The Keep Tilehurst Green residents group was disappointed to learn that Darcliffe Homes have submitted two near simultaneous planning applications for local sites in Tilehurst at Clements Mead/Sulham Hill and Stonehams Farm/Long Lane.

“In particular, because these sites are already subject to a review of West Berkshire Council’s development plan document at a public inquiry on July 4.

“Keep Tilehurst Green believes these applications are presumptive and premature.

“Furthermore, it is concerned that the applications are for substantially more homes and at a higher density than that included in the council’s DPD.”

The council has already approved a scheme for 35 homes in Pangbourne identified in the DPD.

When the plans were approved, the council said the site’s inclusion weighed heavily in the development’s favour.

Darcliffe said that while objections had been raised, these had been considered by the council during a consultation on the DPD.

Tilehurst Parish Council objected to both applications.

It said that quality of life for new residents would be unsatisfactory as there are no proposals for new doctors, schools and libraries.

Councillors also raised concerns over increased flooding and traffic safety

The MP for Reading West, Alok Sharma, is backing residents in their campaign.

Mr Sharma said: “I agree with local residents that the developer is jumping the gun by submitting planning applications on these sites before West Berkshire Council’s Development Plan has been formalised.

“Given the existing high levels of traffic and pressure on local services in the area, development on these cherished green spaces is clearly not sustainable and should be rejected outright.”