Henwick Park developer back with scaled-down plans

Scheme for fewer houses submitted while appeal pending

A DEVELOPER looking to build hundreds of homes on the town boundary has submitted new scaled down plans.

Croudace Strategic is back with fresh proposals for 225 homes at Henwick Park – land to the north of Heath Lane and west of Cold Ash Hill.

The plans are Croudace’s second shot at developing the site within a year, following West Berkshire Council turning down an application for 265 homes.

The developer now “has two irons in the fire” as it has appealed the decision.

The new application includes public open space and additional flood defences, while vehicular access from the Heath Lane roundabout and Bowling Green Road remain unchanged.

The developer has removed the previously proposed play area and sports pitch but provision for a GP’s surgery for six doctors remains. Forty per cent of the homes will be affordable.

Croudace said that the site is “the best located site to provide additional housing and open space provision in Thatcham”.

When the council refused the plans it said it said had concerns over flooding and traffic, and that the separate identities of Thatcham and Cold Ash would be eroded.

The developer says it has countered the reasons for refusal by proposing large areas of open space along the northern edge of the site, in order to maintain the green gap.

Croudace said it will work with the council and the local community to secure the flood defences, which it added could otherwise be deferred for up to 10 years, pending government funding.

Discussing the latest submission at a meeting at Cold Ash Parish Council last week, Garth Simpson (Con, Cold Ash) said he had been advised that the developer knew its first plan would not have been successful.

He said: “They have put forward a tactical application and sweetened it by reducing the number of houses.

“This a strategy, it’s very common, and we have to deal with it all the time.”

Town and district councillor for Thatcham Central, Richard Crumly (Con), agreed with the tactics.

He said: “It’s not new for developers to make the most of the planning laws while going to appeal.

“They are keeping two irons in the fire.”

Mr Crumly said the previous objections, such as flooding, traffic and encroachment into the countryside, would remain regardless of the number of homes being put forward.

A decision on the latest plans is due by September 8.

The appeal on the first application will be held in November at the same time as an appeal to build 495 homes at Siege Cross is heard.

The latest Henwick Park plans can be viewed by entering 16/01508/OUTMAJ on West Berkshire Council’s planning website.