'Greedy' developer tries to up numbers on Thatcham development

Newbury-based Ressance has applied to build six houses and 32 flats at land from 131 to 141 Bath Road. The firm currently has permission to erect 11 one and two-bedroom flats on land at the corner of Bath Road and Henwick Lane, granted on appeal last year.
However, the new plan shows that Ressance now wants to develop six three-bedroom houses, and 18 two-bedroom and 14 one-bedroom apartments.
While some residents agree that the derelict houses are an eye-sore, many are not happy about the latest application, particularly as the two-storey houses to be demolished could be replaced with three-storey buildings.
Nick Jones, of Henwick Lane, said: “These three-storey houses that will border number 3 Henwick Lane and 1 Henwick Lane will dominate, overshadow and remove their privacy as they will both be overlooked by these tall houses.
“I consider that this number of new homes is overdevelopment of the site, but do support the idea and scope of the parking proposal for these houses if they do not impact on the pavements of Henwick Lane and Bath Road.”
Although the plan stipulates 51 parking spaces, most of which would be underground, Stephen Hallahan, of Barfield Road, was still worried about the number of vehicles accessing the site.
He said: “How will this site accommodate parking for 38 [properties]?
“In all likelihood, it will not, and parking vehicles along Bath Road will be dangerous to road users of this busy road, and footpath users too.
“This footpath also hosts the main cycle route through Thatcham to Newbury.
“What would seem to be likely is a spill-over of parked vehicles into nearby streets, most likely the grass verges of Henwick Lane.
“The open recreation nature of the area will be permanently ruined.”
Another local resident, who asked not to be named, said that the increase in proposed housing could create problems for refuse collections and would be “highly likely” to promote casual car crime.
He said: “We are very annoyed at the awful state the existing properties have been allowed to decline to,” adding that the council should not have allowed the current owners to let this happen.
“This planning application seems to be excessively ambitious and greedy in the number of dwellings planned, and inappropriate for an area on the quiet margin and recreational area of Thatcham.”
Duncan Crook, of Ressance, said that it was decided to increase the size of the development because there was a “strong demand” for housing in the area.
Responding to concerns about traffic, he said that most of traffic from the development would come off Bath Road, which was a major route.
“Bath Road can easily take the traffic and the traffic on to Henwick Lane, from the six houses, will be very low.”
He added that the site was big enough for the number of homes planned.
“When you redevelop urban land, you reduce the strain on greenfield land.
“This is also supported by government policy to reuse previously-developed land.”
West Berkshire Council is expected to make a decision early next year.